|
Re: New Bumper Rule makes West Coast drive Illegal?
That's correct. However, FIRST was not specific as to what constitutes the robot's frame or structure. You could conceivably lay a strip of some sort of lightweight material behind the bumper, and call it part of the frame.
Personally, and unofficially for the moment, I'd say that it's up to the team to decide what is and is not part of their structure or frame. (They designed it: they ought to have a better idea than anyone else.)
As a matter of policy, it would be foolishness to ask inspectors to second-guess the teams as to what is, or isn't part of the frame, based on subjective measures like how substantial the support piece is. It would just lead to different interpretations at different events, as teams appear with all manner of plywood, metal channel, plastic sheets, etc. as structural backings for their bumpers. Even if there was a universal standard applied everywhere, what would be the point—is that really a useful thing to have, among all of the other rules that teams need to deal with?
|