Bumpers

[bhhsrobotics]

We are a rookie FRC team. We have a little more than a week left before we have to bag n' tag our robot. We ordered some parts for our bumpers and it ended up they won't be here on time. Does anyone know if we have to have the bumpers on when we bag our robot? or can we just put them on during the competition?

You don't need to include your bumpers in your bagged robot.

[XaulZan11]

Originally Posted by SuperNerd256

You don't need to include your bumpers in your bagged robot.

True, but then it counts towards your 30 pound withholding allowance.

Originally Posted by XaulZan11

True, but then it counts towards your 30 pound withholding allowance.

Really? I didn't think it did. Thanks for sharing that!

[IndySam]

You do not have to bag them but they will count as part of your 30lb allowance.

[R26]
Teams may bring a maximum of 30 lbs of Fabricated Items to each competition event to be used to repair and/or
upgrade their Robot at the competition site. The Operator Console and any battery assemblies (see [R03]-A) are not
applicable.

[GaryVoshol]

Please don't reply when you don't have the correct answer.

The answer can be found in the Bag & Tag section of the Admin manual, section 5.5:

For your convenience, the team may bag their bumpers separately from their robot. However, the separately-bagged bumpers must be sealed with their own tag, and that tag number must be entered on the Robot Lock-Up Form.

So since they can be in a separate bag, you have the answer that they must be bagged.

However, because bumpers can weigh at most 20 pounds per [R27], you could make them part of your weight allowance [R26] that can be brought in outside your bag. If you elect to have two sets of bumpers, red and blue, you would have to make both of them fit within the 30 pound allowance.

[IndySam]

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

Please don't reply when you don't have the correct answer.

Gary the OP's original point is the bumpers will not be finished until after stop build day so the second bag rule doesn't apply.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by bhhsrobotics

We ordered some parts for our bumpers and it ended up they won't be here on time.

OK, make as much of your bumper as you can - the plywood at least - and bag that. They then don't count against the 30 lb allowance.

Surely you have plywood. If you have pool noodle, then why not consider a different cloth material for the bumper covers - anything heavy will do OK, although the 1000 Denier Cordura is really the best. I've seen teams use canvas, denim, and the like.

[bhhsrobotics]

Thanks for the input. Yes we can put the plywood on, possibly attatch that to bot. The pool noodle has already been ordered but just isnt on its way yet. Thanks again. Now I will start reading the rule book so i can hopefully be as smart about all these rules as some of you are

[Jon Stratis]

If all you're waiting on is the pool noodles, then stick the fabric (pre-cut to the correct shape/size), plywood, and all attachment bracketry in your bag. Bring the pool noodles in whole, and cut them to size when you get to competition.

Since the pool noodles will be unmodified when you walk in the door, they will not count towards your withholding allowance (they aren't fabricated parts, per R26).

[Al Skierkiewicz]

bhhs,
You can bring the bumper parts with you as raw materials and construct the parts into your bumper system at the competition.

[Retired Starman]

Or you can bag all the fabricated parts that you now have, such as your plywood, brackets. bolts, etc. Bring your noodles and cloth with you. You have all day Thursday to assemble and cover your bumpers. It shouldn't take too long for a couple of students to do while you are getting the rest of the robot ready for inspection.

Dr. Bob

Chairman's Award is not about building the robot. Every team builds a robot.