Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon Stratis
The only place to get a usable answer is the official Q&A. Personally, I think this pushes things a little too far. That ramp part doesn't really seem to serve any purposes for attaching the bumper to the robot, it's just there to help with game play - that is not the intent of the bumpers or the bumper rules.
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I'm just a lowly RI, and Jon is my state's head LRI, but I'd interpret the rules differently-- in your favor. The wedge (assuming it resides above 4") can also be viewed as strengthening the bumper mount assembly, since it helps prevents bending of that piece and the attached bumper.
We are allowed to choose bumper fabric to assist in game play (slippery to avoid defense, friction to help play defense) and bumper height, horizontal bumper coverage to allow support or clearance for manipulators etc. Why can't I design a bumper mount system that also optimizes game play?
In 2012, we specifically used 1/8th steel sheet bumper mounts that ran the length of the bumper backing board and sized the height of the steel specifically to approach the 20lb max bumper weight (to help lower CG) it was very much overkill for a robust mounting system-- however they also strengthened the overall bot frame (which was made of birch plywood). Any bumper that has extra fasteners to the frame will help make the frame/bumper system more robust, as does this one.
As Jon says, use Q & A, but I suspect you'll get a non-answer, and they will defer to your inspector/LRI.
Hence, you may want to consider a 'safer' solution that is not so open to interpretation.
P.S. It's refreshing to see a Bumper post that doesn't have "8 inches" in it somewhere.