Re: How is 54" size limit being inspected?
 

At Lake Superior, there were only a couple robots that warranted measuring - the others were all clearly within the limit. All but one of those measured didn't need any further looking, they clearly had more than an inch to spare with just some quick "napkin math". The other however was close enough that I felt the need to go further... I did a quick (less than 10 mins) CAD mockup with all the inportant critical dimensions to check it out.

Re: How is 54" size limit being inspected?
 

I'm just trying to get in an inspector's head, but if a team provided you with a CAD printout, would you have done your quick CAD anyway?

Re: How is 54" size limit being inspected?
 

If the critical dimensions (length/width of each part, measurements of diagonals) were included on the printout by the CAD software and it was clear that everything fit within the cylinder on the printout, then no, I wouldn't have done my own CAD. I would have verified those critical measurements, however, to ensure that the CAD model was a valid representation of the robot in its maximum playing configuration... often what we design on the computer doesn't exactly match what's built!

Re: How is 54" size limit being inspected?
 

At our district event the inspectors used a 54" ID polycarbonate circle. The circle was halved and could be oriented in any direction, I assumed FIRST supplied it.

They used it and even told an inside climbing team they would be penalized if they started outside the pyramid (their climbing mechanism deflected when they went under). They played the elimination matches never leaving the inside of a pyramid.

Re: How is 54" size limit being inspected?
 

Does the 54" cylinder include bumpers?

I was trying to determine this by reading the rules. G23 says the ROBOT must fit within the 54" cylinder.

The definition of ROBOT does not mention bumpers.

The definition of BUMPERS says they attach to the ROBOT.

That would make me think that BUMPERS are separate from the ROBOT and not included in the 54" cylinder for inspection.

Re: How is 54" size limit being inspected?
 

Yes the 54" rule does include bumpers

Re: How is 54" size limit being inspected?
 

Can you tell me how you reach that conclusion?

Re: How is 54" size limit being inspected?
 

https://frc-qa.usfirst.org/Question/44/questionlink

Re: How is 54" size limit being inspected?
 

Yet when weighing the ROBOT, the BUMPERS are excluded from the weight for R05. And all through the rules ROBOT and BUMPERS are mentioned separately.

So only for G23 and G23-1 are BUMPERS considered part of the ROBOT.

OK, that clears things up :)

Re: How is 54" size limit being inspected?
 

I don't make the rules, I just enforce them :) If there's a Q&A answer tomorrow that says "Per R196, every robot must have a carrot dangling by a string to indicate the front of the robot", I'll make sure I bring some carrots for those teams that missed it! If Frank is reading this, I'd love to see this rule... inspectors get hungry when running around to different pits all day, and having a natural snack built into every robot would be awesome! ;)

But in all seriousness, take a look at what the rule is attempting to accomplish. It's primary goal is to make climbing the tower a little more challenging, as that's really the only situation I've seen teams come close to hitting the limit. Part of climbing the tower involves the bumpers (how do you get them around the horizontal bars and avoid getting stuck?), so it only makes sense that, in this case, the bumpers are included in the 54" cylinder.

Re: How is 54" size limit being inspected?
 

Make sure that your robot doesn't go outside the cylinder during competition- even if it's not made to. Twice at WPI, 2791's arm broke when hanging (they have all their systems consolidated into one arm- its pretty nice). One of their gears got stripped, and they ended up outside the cylinder and were penalized a tech foul in both instances.

Re: How is 54" size limit being inspected?
 

Interestingly enough, the Q/A says that inspectors will use a Tape Measure

Re: How is 54" size limit being inspected?
 

I think it would be nice if FIRST decided on rules which were more easily enforceable.

for example, wouldn't it be nicer to say:
This allows slightly bigger robots than a 50" cylinder, but notice that I reduced the number from 54" to 50". I think this would be more easily enforceable and still accomplish the general intent of the rule.

Re: How is 54" size limit being inspected?
 

At the Peachtree Regional (Georgia) today, we inspectors laid out a very accurate circle with blue painter's tape on the floor, 54 in. in diameter. This, we call, the Circle of Doom.

All robots during inspection must be placed within the circle. The back two corners are aligned with the circle (using speed squares if necessary). The any appendage is placed in it's maximum extension position and a long T-square is placed on the end of the appendage and flat on the ground. It quickly and accurately shows that the robot fits within the 54 in. cylinder.

Don't know how others do it, but this works and is real easy.

BEWARE, THE CIRCLE OF DOOM, ALL YE WHO ENTER!

Dr. Bob,
Chairman's Award is not about building the robot. Every team builds a robot.

Re: How is 54" size limit being inspected?
 

How do you handle situations when the 54" cylinder isn't perpendicular to the floor?