November Mission Model Discussion: M02 - SOLAR PANEL ARRAY

Welcome to the November Mission Model Discussion! From now until just before Thanksgiving this space will feature ONE part of the FIRST LEGO League INTO ORBIT game challenge per day. The Robot Game is only 1/4th of the overall FIRST LEGO League challenge for teams this year!
This post is meant to be an aid, not a replacement for carefully reading the Challenge Guide and Updates!

Today we will explore M02 - SOLAR PANEL ARRAY

At the Beginning of the Match

 The solar panel is attached to the ramp, it should be hanging over the table wall between the two tables along the North wall. There are two solar panels on the field, one on each team's ramp. The solar panels start in the middle click of the 3 click options. This puts the panels in the most upright position, neither leaning red, nor leaning blue.

Required for Scoring

For collaboration scoring, both solar panels must be angled towards the same field.
For individual scoring, the solar panel attached to your ramp must be angled towards the other team's field.

Update

. UO4 - Your robot is free and expected to switch the position of any Solar Panel at any time, to maximize your score, even though one of them wasn't called "your" panel. R16 is not a problem here because:

• Both teams have equal/symmetrical access to both Solar Panels by design of the game.
• The 22-point condition for M02 is about Solar Panel(s) - plural - indicating both.
• All of your scoring diagrams do include both panels.

Be aware, your team can manipulate either panel, but so can the team at the opposite table.

Points

0 - your Solar Panel, or both Solar Panels are in the starting position
18 - your Solar Panel is positioned tilted towards the other team's field, the Solar Panel on the East of your field is either pointed towards your field or in the neutral position.
22 - Both Solar Panels are pointed towards your field.
40 - Both Solar Panels are pointed towards the other team's field.

Note from Oregon Head Referee Tom

At a competition match, there are two Solar Panel Arrays on the North wall - one directly North from each team’s Base. The mission rules allow each team to move either Solar Panel (See Challenge Update U04). But teams may not prevent the other team from moving either panel - that could cause an Interference ruling (see Rule R16).

Real World Impact

Outside of the Earth's atmosphere the best energy source we currently know how to harness is solar power. Our sun provides nearly limitless energy, however; we aren't always positioned to make the best use of it. The solar arrays on the International Space Station are mounted on gimbals to maximize sun exposure as the station rotates around the earth 16 times a day! 60% of the power generated by the solar arrays on the space station is stored for the times when the station is shadowed by the Earth.

Discussion

This mission provides an excellent opportunity to work collaboratively with the other team. It's very good to make it clear to the other team what your robot is capable of when it comes to the M02 - SOLAR PANEL ARRAY mission. Will your team seek to maximize your points or the other teams? Why is your team making that decision?

ADDED for Clarity

The above image is a photoshop of how competition tables are set up at the tournament. Circled in red are the solar panels. Your team can manipulate either solar panel as can the other team. The idea is to work collaboratively so that both teams receive points.

Thank you for the question!
Loridee