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Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery
FIRST designed a system which allows you 3 inches of space, so follow it. Almost every team at VCU didn't have a problem with it, why should it be changed to help the few that don't follow the rules? This isn't by any measure a new rule. It's been in place for the entire season, you should plan accordingly. In 2004 there were similar rules, that didn't even give those 3 inches.
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After spending Thursday, Friday, and Saturday standing beside one of the corner goals at VCU I've been wondering how the 3 inch rule is interpreted. The bumpers extend 3-1/2 inches beyond the frame of the robot and end 8-1/2 inches above the floor. The opening of the corner goal is 10 inches high so the bumpers will extend into the goal when the frame of the robot is against the polycarbonate. If the goal starts at the field side of the polycarbonate, the bumpers are 3-1/2 inches into the goal. If the goal starts at the corral side of the polycarbonate then the bumpers extend 3-1/8 inches into the goal.
I could flex the center of the polycarbonate about 3/4 inch with my fingers, so a hit by the corner of a robot would flex it even more. It seems to me that a legal bumper system could easily draw a penalty.
Any refs out there who could tell me how the 3 inches is determined during game play?
Greg