pic: 2009: Yay or nay?
 

Re: pic: 2009: Yay or nay?
 

I'm not sure from the picture alone, but based on the definition you pointed to, I would say yes that should be legal. That said, based on this section of <R8>, maybe not. It would depend on how much, if any, the bumpers extended beyond the upper "planes" of that design.

<R8>"... a ROBOT that is driven into a vertical wall in any normal PLAYING CONFIGURATION will always have the BUMPER be the first thing to contact the wall..."

Re: pic: 2009: Yay or nay?
 

I'm with billbo on this one. Looks to be legal from my understanding.

Re: pic: 2009: Yay or nay?
 

I'd say legal as well.... but what is the advantage? you're losing surface area for pickup or intake, but you are also reducing area that can get caught on other robots?

Re: pic: 2009: Yay or nay?
 

Madison,

I am 95% confident a rule clarification will come out as early as tomorrow making this idea illegal. I had the same idea, but unfortunately this will be disallowed, trust me.

Rule R8 will be updated to read that no part of your robot (except hitch and hitch spacer) will be able to expand past the BUMPER PERIMETER.

Here is what also will probably be updated / clarified:

1. Trailer hitch and spacer must be mounted outside the BUMPER PERIMETER. So, basically, the trailer hitch must be mounted as shown in the picture.

2. Trailer hitch and spacer will not be included in either the size or weight limitation. So this means that during weigh in and sizing, the hitch will need to be removed from the robot (I am 99% sure on this one).

Paul

Re: pic: 2009: Yay or nay?
 

It's possible to cantilever a pickup mechanisms out beyond the BUMPER PERIMETER and gain back the 12" of pickup width that's otherwise eaten by bumpers. But alas, I think Paul is right.

I think you're right on all counts. I thought I'd add the visual to the discussion just to help clarify things a bit, but I'm pretty confident that this sort of design -- even if some part of the bumper first makes contact with the wall as per the <R08> litmus test --will become illegal.

Re: pic: 2009: Yay or nay?
 

Team Update #1 has confirmed, NAY!

"To clarify the intended effect of keeping all parts of the Robot within the BUMPER
PERIMETER, Rule <R16> has been updated as follows:
Once the MATCH has started, the ROBOT may assume a PLAYING
CONFIGURATION that is different from the STARTING
CONFIGURATION. The ROBOT must be designed such that the
PLAYING CONFIGURATION of the ROBOT shall not exceed the
dimensions specified in Rule <R11>. When in the PLAYING
CONFIGURATION, no part of the ROBOT may extend outside the vertical
projection of the BUMPER PERIMETER."