The GDC posted two rulings regarding circular robots on the Q&A:
https://frc-qa.usfirst.org/Question/203/questionlink
Quote:
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A. For the purposes of [R22], a round FRAME PERIMETER will be treated as a series of infinite corners. As such, each corner would require at least 8 in. of BUMPER on each side. In the example of a circular FRAME PERIMETER, the entire FRAME PERIMETER would require BUMPERS.
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And
https://frc-qa.usfirst.org/Question/272/questionlink
Quote:
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You're right, our apologies for the contradiction. Q203 has been refined. For the purposes of [R31], there are no corners.
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In other words, for determining bumper coverage, a circular has an infinite number of corners. For determining team number placement, it has no corners.
As Don pointed out, this is using
common sense. The intent of the rules is to have the bumpers be the first thing to contact in an impact, and for the numbers to be visible regardless of robot orientation. Of course circular robots are required to have bumpers all the way around, and of course they need numbers on them in a way that unambiguously shows the team number to any observer.