pic: illegal or not?
 

Re: pic: illegal or not?
 

So what is it exactly? Does the bumper represent your robot, or another robot?

Re: pic: illegal or not?
 

jsasaki,
Is it some sort of bumper clamp? Need more details.

Re: pic: illegal or not?
 

Actually, I'd be worried about the bumper number rules. They must be white, or outlined in white. Those are white&black and the white is not the outline color. Also, from a rough guess, I'd say the white portion is not a 3/4" stroke assuming the numbers are 4" tall, and the black wouldn't count since it has hardly any contrast with the red so it does not add to readability.

Re: pic: illegal or not?
 

If that is a clamp that you put out as an appendage and it is not over 14" from your frame... it is probably ok but remember that many robots have different bumper heights... not much... but a little... and this would not work..if it clamps from both sides..

There is no rule that says you may not clamp onto an alliance partner.

Re: pic: illegal or not?
 

Also, clamping to a robots bumper wont be much of a sure thing.
I imagine that many teams bumpers weren't attached to the chassis with load bearing in mind.

Re: pic: illegal or not?
 

Are they that strict on the bumpers nowadays? They're definitely white.... and very legible.

Re: pic: illegal or not?
 

Yes, they're that strict -- either they follow the rules or they don't pass inspection. Lots of teams have had bumper issues trying to pass inspection this year.

Re: pic: illegal or not?
 

One of the more common parts requests on Thursday at the Chesapeake regional was "Team X is looking for white fabric paint (and a brush)." Apparently a lot of people missed the whole number has to be white or outlined in white line that was different from last year.

Re: pic: illegal or not?
 

If they're not a 3/4" stroke & 4" tall, redo them. I had a couple of robots that I inspected at GKC that had to re-do their numbers for this very reason. There may have been others. We also had a lot of other bumper issues that had to be corrected; the other big one was the 8" protection of corners.

Re: pic: illegal or not?
 

Yes, they are that strict.

This past weekend at the West Michigan District, the measurers informed us half way through the competition that we were not legal. Our bumper hardware and backing was good, but in the corners where the bumper fabric was folded, it touched their measuring jig (the jig was 2 inches high).

We interpreted the rule differently, in that we believed if a 2 inch jig could easily slide under our bumpers then we were legal. They disagreed, and said our bumpers couldn't touch the top of their 2 inch jig.

A half pound of staples later, out bumpers are aesthetically disgusting, but the fabric no longer brushed the 2 inch jig.

Live and learn.

Re: pic: illegal or not?
 

we used white numbers with a black outline on out robot and we passed bumper inspection easily.

Re: pic: illegal or not?
 

You should not have passed inspection. Don't expect to pass if you go to another regional or the champs.

Re: pic: illegal or not?
 

My guess is this is an appendage that extends to either top/bottom of the other bot's bumper plywood, thereby allowing the other bot to travel (or more likely be slowly pushed) to point where its COG is beyond the edge of the bridge (or at least prevent the bot from tipping when a couple wheels lose contact with the bridge)

If I'm right, you going to have to have a very trusting and willing partner to accept that this rig is the only thing hold them from falling a foot or two to the floor.

Re: pic: illegal or not?
 

It depends on the stroke width of the white part - if 3/4" or more, then it would be OK IMHO.