Originally Posted by Mark McLeod (Post 824668)

Unless you've pre-cut your COTS 4' x 8' sheet of plywood into bumper width strips...
Luckily, I don't believe we'll be anywhere close to our 40 lbs of fabricated parts and can donate some of our weight allowance to these spare bumper parts.

Originally Posted by Russ Beavis (Post 825316)

I recommend that you let your know Lead Robot Inspector know if you've got extra bumper parts available. He/she would appreciate being able to point teams in your direction.

Russ

/edit
And, by the way, THANK YOU VERY MUCH (in advance) for bringing such goodies to your regional!!!
edit/

Originally Posted by ChrisH (Post 824889)

There is a simple solution to that. Leave the pre-cut strips in your vehicle and give them to the other team in the parking lot. Then they become part of the other team's allowance, not yours.

Originally Posted by MikeDubreuil (Post 821045)

The problem is with graphic communication. The GDC supplies graphics in the Robot Manual to help describe what they are specifically referring to in certain rules. However, the graphics may contradict other rules. Unfortunately, the graphics can lead readers to conclusions the GDC never intended. Then us mere mortals rely on the Q/A to clear the confusion.

I am assuming in Figure 8-1, you are supposed to infer that the use of aluminum angle is optional because no bumper rule expressly tells you to use aluminum angle.

In Figure 8-2 (I know, beaten to death), you are not supposed to infer anything and simply look at the "OK" corner configurations.

The GDC would say they provide clarification, meaning the Q/A responses are direclty supported by the rules. (that sentence may get me in trouble)

For me personally this has been a very tiresome year. The GDC wants a very specific bumper design. Unfortunately, the rules seem to be very non-specific and the graphics are confusing. Some folks around here find it simple and straight forward. They think that anyone who doesn't is either: A.) Trying to advance an illegal robot design, B.) lawyering the rules, C.) a moron; which have led to some viscous personal attacks. Quite frankly I don't pour my seemingly dwindling free time into something that I think is a waste of time. I think the rules discussions are important because it provides a platform for the GDC to understand where our thought process is- how people, who don't know the GDC's intent, interpret the rules.