Re: Robot Numbering, Attractive Solutions?
 

It would be almost no expense. In fact, that would be an excellent way for a team to come to competition prepared to help other teams out: have preprinted, laminated numbers for every team.

Re: Robot Numbering, Attractive Solutions?
 

Gregor: be aware that some paints, adhesives, and also thread lockers don't play nice with polycarbonate. Some may dissolve it, others may cause it to become brittle. Make sure you are either aware of a certain paint's effects on polycarb or go ahead and test a small are yourself to see if there are any adverse effects.

Re: Robot Numbering, Attractive Solutions?
 

I'm planning on using full sheets of white sticker paper, with the number printed in sufficiently large font on it. Stick to polycarbonate, and done.

Cheap, crisp, and better looking than most numbers painted on bumpers.

Re: Robot Numbering, Attractive Solutions?
 

I'm pretty disappointed with the numbering rules. I feel like they could have just said that the text has to reasonably contrast with the background, and if it isn't easily legible, the inspector will attach a hand written, legible sign on poster board over your pretty, illegible numbers. I think that threat would have been enough.

Re: Robot Numbering, Attractive Solutions?
 

Remember, if you're in charge of anything, there are only two ways to make people complain:

1. Do something.
2. Do nothing.

If you can avoid those two things, you'll be fine.

FIRSTers in particular want very strictly delineated guidelines so that they know exactly what parameters under which they're working, except when they don't. And different people will come to different conclusions on how which area of what should be handled.

...so people will get grumpy about it either way.

Re: Robot Numbering, Attractive Solutions?
 

What I think reasonably contrasts when I'm in my lab might vary greatly from what someone else thinks reasonably contrasts on the field. It's better to have incredibly strict guidelines for this than have something that the boundaries/restrictions can be pushed to a limit.

Re: Robot Numbering, Attractive Solutions?
 

Would it be considered legal to have four different signs on each side of the robot, each with only one number?

An example would be as follows (note: crude drawing ahead. Sensitive types might want to shield their eyes...) -

_|3|_|8|_|0|_|7|_
[ ~ ~ ROBOT ~ ~ ]

Or vertical signs?

|3|
|8|
|0|
|7|

Or signs with two of the numbers on top and two on bottom?


|38|
|07|

How about angled signs?

\3\
.\8\
..\0\
...\7\

Can the numbers be different sizes?

|3807|

If any one of these options are legal (as long as the font is legible, it's black on a white background, etc). then I'll be happy.

I do think that there is a certain amount of originality that can be preserved with robot numbering... though I would hate to see us have any problems with the judges over something that's pretty trivial.

Re: Robot Numbering, Attractive Solutions?
 

Oh Sanddrag, a VEX slap? Are you unhappy that VEX sends out those really cool number plates?

I'm missing the hard part of this. Black numbers on a white background on the robot isn't hard.

Its an iteration of getting there. We had bumpers with contrasting team numbers on the bumper. Next year bumpers will be back and this won't be a problem :(

If numbers are the biggest issue this season I really can't wait for week 1

Re: Robot Numbering, Attractive Solutions?
 

I actually think you can have your number vertically, as long as it is on all four sides.

Re: Robot Numbering, Attractive Solutions?
 

There's been a fair bit of study on contrast... http://colorusage.arc.nasa.gov/luminance_cont.php http://colorusage.arc.nasa.gov/Percept_layers_1.php

And I'm gonna stop there before I end up down the rabbit hole of reading all about color usage today.

Re: Robot Numbering, Attractive Solutions?
 

While there's some good discussion here, this thread was intended more for innovative solutions than complaining. Keep talking, but let's talk solutions given our constraints.

Re: Robot Numbering, Attractive Solutions?
 

Nope! That's 'ambiguous'. https://frc-qa.usfirst.org/Question/...least-one-side

Re: Robot Numbering, Attractive Solutions?
 

That's good to know... we'll have to change that now...

Re: Robot Numbering, Attractive Solutions?
 

I will say one thing... As an inspector, this rule is very straight forward and easy to verify. Most people seem to want some sort of "contrasting color" rule instead of the black/white... But when inspecting at an event contrasting colors can be somewhat subjective, and may lead to disagreements between teams an inspectors.

Frankly, given the large number of crappy looking bumper numbers I've seen over the years, I'm a little surprised people are so upset about how "bad" this will look on their robot. For teams that forget it, this is something that is easily and quickly (if ugly) remedied with some paper, a sharpie, and some tape... Not so go teams that had bumper issues and had to scramble to find a way to get their numbers on newly made bumpers, or have to wait hours for the paint to dry..

Re: Robot Numbering, Attractive Solutions?
 

I only know because I checked - we were planning on doing the same thing. :( I heartily disagree with that call, but this thread isn't for complaining. How else would you read that number, especially when it's the only thing with a white background?!

What it looks like we'll end up doing is very-long white plates along the edge of the drivetrain with the right numbering on it. Still ugly, but at least existing in its own zone away from our pretty paneling.

I think the biggest thing teams can do to make these plates less horrible is use their correct font. (If your team doesn't have a consistent font use for your numbers ... take a look at your team's branding & fix it!) As long as it fits the stroke requirements it'll at least make the placard look sort-of-intentional.