Chief Delphi - Smaller Robot Perimeter

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Smaller Robot Perimeter

I was just wondering how the loss of 20 inches for the perimeter is affecting designs....any thoughts?

Quote:

R03
The ROBOT must satisfy the following size constraints:

total length of the FRAME PERIMETER sides may not exceed 112 in. (see Figure 4-1 for examples),
PLAYING CONFIGURATION horizontal dimensions may never exceed a 54 in. diameter vertical cylinder (see G23), and
height may never exceed 84 in. tall.

Re: Smaller Robot Perimeter

Actually, no. Our team is currently considering a dedicated climb-deposit bot which is essentially a shortened version of the kitbot frame. The smaller perimeter is not really that bad, as this year's game does not need very large robots.

Re: Smaller Robot Perimeter

My team has not run into any problems just yet. With this said however we foresee great difficulty fitting both a climbing mechanism and our shooter onto the chassis. With what is probably one of the hardest endgames in the last few years; I wish they had left the size the same at least for this year.

Re: Smaller Robot Perimeter

Does the round measuring device mean that the bumpers must be within that area or not?

Re: Smaller Robot Perimeter

Quote:

Originally Posted by inkspell4 (Post 1211779)

Does the round measuring device mean that the bumpers must be within that area or not?

Consider looking in the manual, specifically "The Robot" section.

Looked there couldn't find anything mentioning the bumpers in relation to the cylindrical limitations.

Re: Smaller Robot Perimeter

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stimpy1901 (Post 1211714)

I was just wondering how the loss of 20 inches for the perimeter is affecting designs....any thoughts?

We plan on having a smaller robot than last year. ;)

Re: Smaller Robot Perimeter

Quote:

Originally Posted by inkspell4 (Post 1211897)

Looked there couldn't find anything mentioning the bumpers in relation to the cylindrical limitations.

You're right, it is never called out specifically. However, it does say that

Quote:

A ROBOT’S horizontal dimensions may never exceed a 54 in. diameter vertical cylinder.

And in the glossary, ROBOT is defined by (emphasis mine):

Quote:

ROBOT: an electromechanical assembly built by an FRC Team to perform specific tasks when competing
in ULTIMATE ASCENT. It includes all of the basic systems required to be an active participant in the game: power,
communications, control, mobility, and actuation. ...

So are bumpers a part of the robot required to be an active participant?

On one hand yes, as you are required to have them to compete.
On the other hand no, as bumpers are defined in the glossary as

Quote:

BUMPER: a protective assembly designed to attach to the exterior of the ROBOT...

and thus something that attaches to the robot as opposed to being an actual part of the robot.

Unless I am missing something in the rules?

Clarification on this would be useful by Q&A if there isn't anything else providing guidance.

Personally, I believe the intent is that the Bumpers are to be included for purposes of measuring the 54 in. cylinder

Re: Smaller Robot Perimeter

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottOliveira (Post 1212187)

Personally, I believe the intent is that the Bumpers are to be included for purposes of measuring the 54 in. cylinder

Until it's clarified, that's the "safe bet" that I recommend.

Re: Smaller Robot Perimeter

Also keep in mind R05:

Quote:

For the purposes of determining compliance with the weight and volume limitations, the items listed below are not included in the weight assessment:

1. the ROBOT battery and its associated half of the Anderson cable quick connect/disconnect pair (including no more than 12 in. of cable per leg, the associated cable lugs, connecting bolts, and insulation) and
2. BUMPERS (including BUMPER covers, if appropriate).

The 54" diameter right cylinder would be considered a volume limitation, I would imagine...

Re: Smaller Robot Perimeter

I think clarification for whether the bumpers count in the 54" determination is very important, and hopefully we will know soon. As MrForbes says, the safe bet is to assume that it does until then. (Better to have a robot that is a little smaller than it is allowed to be than one that is too large.)

Re: Smaller Robot Perimeter

In the past bumpers have not been considered part of the robot in terms of horizontal measurement R05 seems to confirm this. I think you are safe using the frame perimeter & not the bumpers for this.

Figure 2-5 (G23) shows a robot with no bumpers is the 54" cylinder. Come to think of it is FRANK even rule compliant?

Re: Smaller Robot Perimeter

Quote:

Originally Posted by mathking (Post 1212213)

I saw this question was brought up in the Robot section of the Q&A.

Isaac

Re: Smaller Robot Perimeter

Question on Q&A has been answered.

Quote:

Yes, BUMPERS are considered part of the ROBOT for [G23]. This will be addressed in Team UPDATE - 2013-01-11.

Re: Smaller Robot Perimeter

We are creating a square 27 1/2" by 27 1/2" robot to maximize volume and to avoid discrepancies with judges. :)