robot dimensions
 

i know this is a dumb question the rules say that the robot must not exceed the dimensions when starting but what about after the match starts i find the rules a little contradicting

Re: robot dimensions
 

you can not leave the robot contraints during the match either
<R11>

Re: robot dimensions
 

The rules mean that at any time during the match your robot may not exceed the dimensions of 28x38x60. Just imagine that your robot has to fit within a box with those dimensions for the duration of the match.

Re: robot dimensions
 

Check out <R16>. To paraphrase, your robot can change its configuration as long as it doesn't exceed 28X38X60 or the bumper perimeter, whichever is the most restrictive.

Re: robot dimensions
 

if the robots dimensions are 18 by 28 on the bottom (where the wheels are)per say at the top of the robot is 28 x 38 does the top of the robot have to have bumpers

Re: robot dimensions
 

This is not possible. The BUMPER PERIMETER is determined at a height of between 1" and 7" above the floor and, as nothing maybe extend beyond the vertical projection of that BUMPER PERIMETER, it's impossible for a legal robot to be wider at its top than at its bottom.

Re: robot dimensions
 

The bumper perimeter is established by wrapping a string around the robot's maximum dimensions within the bumper zone, which is defined as between 1" and 7" off the floor.

If you extrude the perimeter defined by that string vertically to a height of 60" off the floor then the entire robot must fit within the resulting shape.

So if any part of your robot, at any height, is 27x37, for instance, then the bumper perimeter MUST be at least 27x37. The situation you describe, with a 18x28 bottom and 28x38 top would be in violation of the rules as the top part of the robot would exceed the bumper perimeter.

This is to ensure that during interactions between robots and the playing field that the first thing to make contact is always the bumper.

Jason

Re: robot dimensions
 

<R16> 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.

BUMPER ZONE – the volume contained between two virtual horizontal planes, one inch above the
floor and seven inches above the floor.

what rule says that

where is the rule getting to the bumpers must 1 - 7 inches off the floor

Re: robot dimensions
 

Page 4 of the Section 8 "the Robot" defines:

BUMPER ZONE – the volume contained between two virtual horizontal planes, one inch above the floor and seven inches above the floor.

And then R08 "P" states:

P. BUMPERS must be mounted to the ROBOT within the BUMPER ZONE, and must remain there. The BUMPERS must not be articulated or designed to move outside of the BUMPER ZONE.

Re: robot dimensions
 

thanks you guys for clarifying this for us and good luck to everyone

Re: robot dimensions
 

OK we and a few other teams got <R11> infractions at Finger Lakes. I only wish that inspectors had checked our mechanism operation during the power up check. Now I notice it is only in the cursory visual inspection list on the inspection sheet. Given this unique constraint this year, I believe it warrants checking with power on.

Re: robot dimensions
 

Sorry for your penalty, however, if you read the bottom of the inspection checklist( http://www.usfirst.org/uploadedFiles...%20Rev%20D.pdf) the team captain and mentor certify that the robot is built to the rules.

We, the Team Mentor and Team Captain, attest by our signing below, that our team’s robot was built after the 2009 Kickoff on January 3, 2009 and in accordance with all of the 2009 FRC rules, including all Fabrication Schedule rules. We have conducted our own inspection and determined that our robot satisfies all of the 2009 FRC rules for robot design.

Re: robot dimensions
 

Wait, infractions as in plural? You mean you got multiple penalties for it? Why didn't you fix it after the first one? Some of the rules seem obscure and easy to overlook, but that one seems to be one of the main rules of this years game. I just don't see how multiple teams at a regional overlooked it. Sorry, I know overlooking a rule is annoying. I've had related problems my rookie year(completely missed the motor restrictions). But, this is always just a reminder to read the manual more carefully next year.

Re: robot dimensions
 

Robert,
What exactly does your robot change from starting config that caused the violation?