[Madison]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

I'd say legal as well.... but what is the advantage? you're losing surface area for pickup or intake, but you are also reducing area that can get caught on other robots?

It's possible to cantilever a pickup mechanisms out beyond the BUMPER PERIMETER and gain back the 12" of pickup width that's otherwise eaten by bumpers. But alas, I think Paul is right.

Originally Posted by Paul Copioli

Madison,

I am 95% confident a rule clarification will come out as early as tomorrow making this idea illegal. I had the same idea, but unfortunately this will be disallowed, trust me.

Rule R8 will be updated to read that no part of your robot (except hitch and hitch spacer) will be able to expand past the BUMPER PERIMETER.

Here is what also will probably be updated / clarified:

1. Trailer hitch and spacer must be mounted outside the BUMPER PERIMETER. So, basically, the trailer hitch must be mounted as shown in the picture.

2. Trailer hitch and spacer will not be included in either the size or weight limitation. So this means that during weigh in and sizing, the hitch will need to be removed from the robot (I am 99% sure on this one).

Paul

I think you're right on all counts. I thought I'd add the visual to the discussion just to help clarify things a bit, but I'm pretty confident that this sort of design -- even if some part of the bumper first makes contact with the wall as per the <R08> litmus test --will become illegal.