[Katy]

Originally Posted by tanmaker

You talked about the kitbot chassis being snapped in half even with bumpers. Imagine the damage to both robots had there not been bumpers. Even if bumpers were ruled as no longer mandatory, I would force our team to use them because I don't want my mechanical guys working their butts off after a simple practice match.

The point I was trying to make is that drivers are driving more aggressively because they believe bumpers will shield them. I haven't heard of a kitbot side being snapped in previous years in such a manner. This indicates to me that people are hitting much harder this year.

Originally Posted by Brandon Holley

Also a lot of the conclusions you draw come from the fact that this game is a lot different. How do you know bumpers aren't helping with tipping? I know that this is a crazy game where robots are hitting corners at top speed and going over, or they are getting caught up on an overpass with their arm and going over, but there is not really a way to say that tipping is more prevalent this year over previous years. Different game, different story.

Point acknowledged. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately I don't know) we will not have the opportunity to test this game without bumpers.

Originally Posted by iCurtis

Robots have tipped since the beginning. Robots will continue to tip. Bumpers don't really help much in this regard, but they weren't meant to.

You are correct. I mentioned the tipping because I was trying to find some positive aspect to bumpers but then wound up finding that a negative aspect.

Originally Posted by iCurtis

I've never worked on the field, but from the drive team's perspective the only typical damage to the field is to the carpet. I can see the point of bumpers making driver's drive more aggressively, but the carpet always gets ripped up. Was there more field damage at your regional?

The easiest example I can think of is a post on the Pittsburgh field. Additionally the issues of individuals ramming the drivers station occur not just on the first lap. I don't think they would ram as hard if they believed their robot would sustain damage. Additionally I don't think anything would hit anything else as hard if the robots were not approaching 145 pounds.

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

I've also seen definite proof that bumpers can aid with tipping, as their geometry often has them act as "wheelie bars" for teams slowly tipping over. In more than once instance I've seen team balance on their frame and bumpers while pushed against the Rack or Overpass.

You are correct on this.