While creating our 2012 season bumpers, I came up with the idea of incorporating Electroluminescent (EL)
Panels into bumpers, being a lit background for the numerals. It would be a soft glow, intended to enhance the visibility of the numbers to the judges and scouts.
My question is if given the 2012, or any previous years rules, if it would be legal/within the spirit of the rules to incorporate the panels. It would require a AC inverter to power, and wiring leaving the "robot perimeter" (shouldn't be more than a 1/4" as described in [R01-2]), and using connectors to separate the bumpers from the robot for inspection and alternating between colors of bumpers.