Quote:
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Originally Posted by FRC Q&A, under R01-2
The Bumper Zone rules must be met throughout the Match and the Bumper Zone is in reference to a Robot flat on the floor. At every point in the Match, no matter what configuration, orientation, or Court position the Robot is in, if the Robot were to be placed flat on the floor, Bumper Zone requirements must be met.
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This is a very different interpretation of [R01-2] and [R29] than I was expecting. It precludes a large number of mechanisms (to react off the floor) that could be used to assist in balancing a bridge once your robot is on it.
Essentially, if your robot has bumpers at the maximum height allowed under normal conditions, you may never drop any mechanism below your wheels at all lest you be penalized. Even if your bumpers are all at minimum height (2"-7" off the ground), you only have 3" of extension below the wheel line available. This potentially means that "ski-like" mechanisms to assist in barrier traversal must also be very carefully designed.