Bumpers and Team Number

[vladsfl]

Rookie team question: I believe we need to put team number on all sides of the robot, but what if we have the opening on one side.

Also if we have opening on the side any suggestions on constructing a bumper that can be easily changed as required?

[EricH]

Originally Posted by vladsfl

Rookie team question: I believe we need to put team number on all sides of the robot, but what if we have the opening on one side.

Then you put the number where the opening isn't. There is also some discussion on whether it's legal to put the number on both bumpers on the open side.

Also if we have opening on the side any suggestions on constructing a bumper that can be easily changed as required?

Build both sections for a quick change.

Remember, the rules define the requirements. Read them carefully, and they will tell you what you need to know about this.

[SenorZ]

As per [R35] you need your # at "four locations at approximately 90° intervals around the perimeter of the Robot." So if you have an opening, you still need 8" from each corner/vertex. Just put your team number next to the corner on all four sides!

[Cal578]

[R35]

Teams shall display their team number on the Bumpers in four locations at approximately 90° intervals around the
perimeter of the Robot. The numerals must be at least 4 in. high, at least ¾ in. in stroke width, and be either white in
color or outlined in white. Team numbers must be clearly visible from a distance of not less than 100 ft, so that judges,
referees, and announcers can easily identify competing Robots.

Do you interpret "four locations" to mean "exactly 4 - no more, no less"?

Our team is building a U-shaped rectangular frame, opening in the middle of the front (which is 27"). I think it would look good to put our team number on both sides of the front opening, as well once each on the left, right, and back, for a total of 5 numbers. I believe this meets the spirit and intent of the rule, "...so that judges, referees, and announcers [and spectators] can easily identify competing Robots." (I added the part in italics).

I've just signed up for the Q&A, but apparently I need to wait before I can post a question. When I click the "Team Questions" tab, it says "Your request is in pending state".

[Cal578]

Looks like team 1619 just posted exactly the question for [R35] that I wanted. The answer is still pending, but I'm following it.

[SteveGPage]

Originally Posted by Cal578

I've just signed up for the Q&A, but apparently I need to wait before I can post a question. When I click the "Team Questions" tab, it says "Your request is in pending state".

There are two types of accounts in the Q&A forum. The first is a team account, ie. FRC0836. The password for that account can be found in TIMS. That account already exists, and is the account you must use to ask a question. The second type of account is a personal account, where individuals can sign up to see and follow questions, but not ask questions. Once you create a personal account, the team admin must go in and authenticate your request to follow and see the team questions - that's why you are getting the message you get when you click on Team Questions. If you haven't had someone sign in as the team admin, you will need that done before they can ask the question and authenticate your account.

[Cal578]

Thanks, Steve, that is very helpful. Too bad the message on the Q&A wasn't a little more intuitive. Anyway, I will find out who on my team can take care of that.

[jimwick]

We have had good luck in attaching the sections of bumpers at the corners with metal angles, then lowering them as a unit onto the robot. We usually use the KOP frame and attach the bumpers to them with small angles. Attaching sections at the corners helps stabilize the bumpers.

This year, with a gap in the front, we will try to put a temporary brace across the front, just hold while mounting.

[pribusin]

We have the same issue, large front opening. Our concern is the lettering size requirement. If we were to put our team number on one side of the opening only, the bumper size would not be large enough. We are going to split the team number in half. Hope that doesn't violate the rule. Looking forward to seeing an answer on this.

[Nate Laverdure]

Originally Posted by pribusin

We are going to split the team number in half. Hope that doesn't violate the rule. Looking forward to seeing an answer on this.

There already is one. In the Q&A under R35:

Per [R35] team numbers must be "clearly visible from a distance of not less than 100 ft, so that judges, referees, and announcers can easily identify competing Robots." Thus they may not be obscured in any way (disconnected, out of order, rotated, upside-down, mirror imaged, etc).

[IceStorm]

I'd watch out splitting the number in half per the QandA.

Q. We have a u-shaped robot, so will have split front bumpers. Can we split the our numbers; say "33" on the right and the "52" on the left or do all of the numbers need to be on one side of the robot? It may be a tight fit with the new number size criteria. FRC3352 2012-01-19
A. Per [R35], team numbers must be clearly visible. This means that they may not be inverted, obscured, fragmented, upside down, etc.

Were in the same boat as everyone else. I really hope that they ease up on this ruling. We've got the backs for the bumpers cut but have hesitated doing anything with the fabric until closer to the actual stop build date.

[JesseK]

The manual is supposed to be simpler this year, yet this is a prime example of how vague rules overlap to derive obfuscated requirements.

Hey GDC, answer me this:

• Why can't we simply not put numbers on bumpers so long as the numbers are clear and visible from 4 sides?
• What specifically is so important to the GDC that the GDC mandate numbers go specifically on the bumpers?
• Why not post a color template for all teams to print off and post on 4 sides?
• What's going to happen when the team #'s hit 10,000? Are rookie teams really going have their designs that much more hindered compared to old veteran teams with only 3 digits or lots of 1's in their team number?

[Phyrxes]

We have our side bumpers done, we are waiting to see how this is going to work with with putting our 4 digit number on two sections of the front before committing to front and back bumper arrangements.

I'd really just like to be able to display our team number above the bumper on the front and back, putting it on the poly-carbonate shielding.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Phyrxes

I'd really just like to be able to display our team number above the bumper on the front and back, putting it on the poly-carbonate shielding.

You already can--in addition to the number on the bumper, of course. That would be pretty much a Non-Functional Decoration.

[BrendanB]

Originally Posted by Phyrxes

We have our side bumpers done, we are waiting to see how this is going to work with with putting our 4 digit number on two sections of the front before committing to front and back bumper arrangements.

I'd really just like to be able to display our team number above the bumper on the front and back, putting it on the poly-carbonate shielding.

Team 148 has done that the past two years along with several other teams. It is a great way to display your numbers in a way that sticks with your team's image and it is easier to read compared to bumpers. Sorry GDC.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/34909