[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by 1337pcgamer

Heh ya I know, I read it. It doesn't answer it that well.

OK.

My team's experience has been that bumpers are generally a good idea; they have allowed us to use pit time for improvements rather than repairing damage between matches.

This year's bumper rule <R35> differs from the rules in previous years. The new rule basically says you have two options if you want to use bumpers: (1) design them per the figure shown at the bottom of page 11 in <R35>, in which case they are allowed to extend past the 28" x 38" sizing box limit and their weight doesn't count toward the 120 lb. maximum, or (2) use any other bumper design you want, in which case the bumpers must stay within the 28" x 38" sizing box limit and their weight does count toward the 120 lb. maximum.

My opinion is that using the <R35> bumper design will give most robots that do so advantages in traction and protection. My team (931) is using <R35> bumpers. We will be attaching them with bolts as shown in the figure.

If you decide to go with non-<R35> bumpers then attaching them with cable ties, velcro, or double-sided sticky foam would save weight, but wrapping them in cloth and securing the cloth with screws through washers or through strips of metal will be more robust.