View Single Post
  #85   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 10-03-2014, 14:28
Unsung FIRST Hero
Al Skierkiewicz Al Skierkiewicz is offline
Broadcast Eng/Chief Robot Inspector
AKA: Big Al WFFA 2005
FRC #0111 (WildStang)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Rookie Year: 1996
Location: Wheeling, IL
Posts: 10,792
Al Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread

Jesse, I will see what I can do.

I am going to take a departure from my normal listing to make some recommendations based on observations over the weekend.

Bumpers. I don't know why bumper construction is so difficult for teams. This year is proving to be a violent game and bumpers are taking a beating. Teams, please modify your design to stand up to the hard hits. I watched as a team was disabled when their bumper was ripped from their frame. If you do not use substantial fasteners, you will risk the same fate. The bumper system is designed to absorb the shock of massive robots hitting each other at high speed, exactly what we are experiencing this season. While many teams use a different cloth color to mount over a permanent color (skirts, flip over covers, etc.) few are considering the effect of a hard hit has on this method. You should use some positive attachment to prevent the fabric from coming off in a collision or from slipping and allowing loose fabric from dragging on the floor. You have spent a great deal of time making a nice looking robot. Invest equal effort in building your bumpers. While bumpers in the corners are legal, this might not be the game that best utilizes that design. It seems that teams with full bumpers are surviving the best.
You have a choice of fabric available to you, but even the 1000 dernier Cordura is getting damaged. Don't skimp on the fabric, get the "good stuff". Two colors that closely match the FIRST Logo colors are needed. You need to add your team number to the fabric. There are several methods that you can employ for that, including number kits available from several locations. Expect that the numbers will pull off and have spares ready to apply.
Remember that they must be fully in the 2" to 10" zone above the floor when sitting on a flat floor. If you have allowed some slack in your fabric, expect the pool noodles to sag. When they go out of the bumper zone, you are in violation. A quick check is a boot toe should fit under the bumpers. If you have checked yours with a tape measure than calibrate to your own shoe and insure that every match you are within the bumper zone.
And lastly, if you use a method for attachment that takes your team 30 minutes to remove or to remount, you really need to think about a better method to attach them. The rule of thumb of one person and ten minutes should be your starting point for attachment design.
Good luck everyone.
__________________
Good Luck All. Learn something new, everyday!
Al
WB9UVJ
www.wildstang.org
________________________
Storming the Tower since 1996.
Reply With Quote