Introducing Match Load Balls and Tilting Launcher

Official Q&A 2025-26 Aerial Drone Competition
1

In TM3: Introducing Match Balls, what does the manual mean when it describes tilting the launcher backward as needing to be necessary? Does the launcher have to be stationary, not touching the ground, or if it is slowly moving down, can you tilt it down manually?

Also, if a visual observer is trying to match load, does loading and tilting down have to be two different motions, or can you have balls in your hands while tilting the launcher down?

At a recent event, a visual observer had balls in their hand and, in a single motio,n pulled the launcher down and then loaded the balls into the launcher and let go once it was on the ground. The visual observer did not break any other subsections in TM3 besides C. The referee called it a disqualification due to breaking TM3 subsection C, and categorized the violation as intentional. Is this the intentional interpretation of the rule?

2

The intent of TM3c is to prevent humans from manually tipping the launcher in a way that causes match balls to roll or be launched into the field.

Referees are not expected to make fine judgments about whether the launcher is fully stationary, fully touching the ground, or in slight motion at the exact moment balls are loaded.

Additionally, A visual observer may hold match balls while pulling the launcher downward, provided that:

  • The balls are not released into the field by human action, and
  • The launcher is ultimately tipped and activated by the drone.

Under these conditions, the described action does not constitute a violation of TM3c and should not be considered an intentional violation or grounds for disqualification.