Chief Delphi - Integrated Bumpers

Chief Delphi (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/index.php)

- Technical Discussion (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=22)

- - Integrated Bumpers (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=130366)

Re: Integrated Bumpers

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris is me (Post 1398176)

I imagine 233 did something like this.

Zip ties.

Re: Integrated Bumpers

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris is me (Post 1398176)

If you look at 33's (frankly, brilliant) design, they fix this issue by adding a flange to their outermost "real" frame members which extends over the bumper mounted frame. Thus the frame perimeter is defined by this flange and the bumper frame tucks under it. There are plenty of ways to do this with WCD style frames using "cheater" structural members such as thin plate to extend out and form the frame perimeter. I imagine 233 did something like this.

This would work, but for 233 it was Thursday afternoon when the issue was brought up by an inspector. There bumpers clearly met the intention of the rules, to be robust and protective, but did not meet the 8" "supported" letter of the rules. In following with the standard FIRST interpretations of "supported" as used on the field, vertical zip ties were used. This satisfied the letter of the specific rule to bring their study, robust, and otherwise legal bumpers into compliance in time for them to compete in all their matches.

Wetzel

Re: Integrated Bumpers

Something I've always wondered is why the bumper weight is not just included in the main robot weight? Putting more weight in the bumpers seems disadvantageous to me because it puts the weight much further out. That would make questions about what parts are weighed with bumpers, and what parts are weighed with the robot not matter. I still think size should follow the old rules though.

Re: Integrated Bumpers

As I see it, having no contact with the GDC, If the bumpers were weighted with the robot, it would give incentive to skimp on the bumpers & use the weight else where.

Re: Integrated Bumpers

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankJ (Post 1398194)

As I see it, having no contact with the GDC, If the bumpers were weighted with the robot, it would give incentive to skimp on the bumpers & use the weight else where.

Nobody but one or two teams used bumpers at all when bumpers were both optional and counted in size and weight. One of those teams is reported to have rigged their bumpers with weight-transferring devices.

The year that bumper weight was no longer included in robot weight (and the same for size) provided that the bumpers met a standard design, probably 2/3 of the robots out there carried 'em, and they were optional. The next year, 3/4 or more.