Bumper zone height
 

I must be missing something, but I can't seem to find the height of the Bumper Zone anywhere in this year's manual. Am I? Or should I post this in the Q&A?

Re: Bumper zone height
 

Rule [R01]
"Bumper Zone, which is between 2 and 10 in. from the floor"

-Fish

Re: Bumper zone height
 

That. Is. A. Huge. Bumper. Zone. :O !

Re: Bumper zone height
 

Thats what I thought... because if someone as it at the 2 in mark and someone else has the 10 in mark then the 2 bumpers wont even contact :/

Re: Bumper zone height
 

2+5 = 7. 10-5 = 5. 7-5 = 2" of overlap.

So yeah. They will.

Re: Bumper zone height
 

I noticed that only the frame vertices need to be protected this year. Bumpers do not need to be continuous, apparently.

Re: Bumper zone height
 

They probably did this to allow for floor pickup. Most teams probably will still have the bumpers for the full length if they don't have a mechanism on that side, though.

Re: Bumper zone height
 

They may have also did this to allow teams to climb over the center rail.

Re: Bumper zone height
 

Thanks... I stand corrected

Re: Bumper zone height
 

DO the bumpers need to be level with each other?

Re: Bumper zone height
 

No, they only need to be within the bumper zone, as per [R29].

Re: Bumper zone height
 

so bumper zone is within 2 to 10 in off the ground then and around exterior corners.

Re: Bumper zone height
 

To throw in what I believe to be a new bumper rule, Emphasis mine.

The 148 numeration method of stenciling in with a silver sharpie is obsolete I guess, unless you're able to make a white sharpie show up. Bumm(p)er.

Re: Bumper zone height
 

Thomas,
Not really a new rule, just more distinct. 'Contrasting' under some lighting conditions was not 'contrasting' under others.

Re: Bumper zone height
 

I didn't want to create a new thread, and my question is similar:

Sorry for the large size, not sure how to make it smaller.
My question is:
Did FIRST make a mistake/typo in this picture? The two gaps labeled 10 inches are clearly not of identical lengths ( i even measured to make sure :P). I understand why the "not ok" on the left is not ok, but, given the current numbers, i do not understand why the "ok" on the right is ok.
Thanks!
-duke

Re: Bumper zone height
 

R33 says:
I would interpret this as saying that for a bumper to be supported, the gap between the bumpers and the frame must be 1/4 in. or less. The right picture would then be OK because the bumper is supported over that length.

Re: Bumper zone height
 

See here:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...threadid=99458

Summary for your question: if the backing is within 1/4", the bumper is supported.

Re: Bumper zone height
 

[Edit: Internet is too fast]


As for the image, it's a non-scaled drawing so the notated dimensions are overruling to any perceived scale.

Re: Bumper zone height
 

Not really - that interpretation makes the 7"x7" intrusion illegal.

Although not phrased particularly well, what [R33] is really saying is that any intrusion into your bot cannot exceed both 1/4" of depth and 8" of width. In other words, it's an either/or thing - if you're exceeding 1/4" of depth, you can't exceed 8" of width and vice versa.

Re: Bumper zone height
 

Ok it all makes sense now :o

Re: Bumper zone height
 

Samuel is correct. If there is a gap behind your bumper structure due to bolt heads, welds, warped plywood, etc. that do not exceed 1/4" then the gap is legal. If you have an irregularity in your frame for any reason, that exceeds 1/4", the width of said gap may not exceed 8 inches. Any gap greater than 1/4" is interpreted as "unsupported".

R33 Bumpers must be supported by the structure/frame of the Robot (i.e. the gap between the backing material and the frame must not be greater than ¼ in. and no section of Bumper greater than 8 in. may be unsupported). See
Figure 4-7.

Please note that this allows certain drive train designs to have gaps in the frame for wheels while still providing support for bumpers that meets the above rule.
This rule is identical to last year.

Re: Bumper zone height
 

The Bumper Zone is a zone between 2 horizontal planes and extending outward forever. These 2 planes are 2 inches and 10 inches from the ground.

Re: Bumper zone height
 

The intent of R33 is to prevent bumpers from cracking under a hard impact. With the support restrictions, theoretically, the risk of your bumpers doing so is lessened. (Learned this in Hartford from an inspector.) Keep that in mind as you design bumpers.

Re: Bumper zone height
 

Off topic: Could you have a bumper start at the 10inch mark. IE the bumpers lowest point is at the 10" mark?

Re: Bumper zone height
 

No. The ENTIRETY of the bumpers must be in the bumper zone.

Re: Bumper zone height
 

I can see an issue when a high-bumper robot is going over the Barrier and a low-bumper robot approaches from the other side. There could be some serious overlapping issues and possible [G27] violation.