Bumpers

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Posted by Tom Sivert.

Other on team #125, NU-TRONS, from Northeastern University and Textron Systems.

Posted on 4/12/2000 6:25 PM MST



I know everything is over now but I was just wondering if anyone else thought that some of the bumpers that where used where not intended to do what FIRST set out to accomplish. I just thought that some teams utilized them as more then just a protection devise for there robot. Not to mention some didn't even seem to protect there robot at all but did try to harm others. Well let me know your thoughts.
Thanks

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Posted by Dave.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Student on team #308, Robo Stars, from Walled Lake Schools and TRW.

Posted on 4/12/2000 8:35 PM MST


In Reply to: Bumpers posted by Tom Sivert on 4/12/2000 6:25 PM MST:



Hey,

Well, bumpers certinally added a twist this year. I didn't get to see all the teams that used them, but from what I saw, they had a couple uses. Protecting the robot was the biggest one. I thought about what would have happened if my team had put bumpers on. There were a couple matches in the elimination rounds that they would have saved us. (Bent axels are no fun...) The only other really effective use I saw for bumpers was on team 6. When they sat on that ramp and flashed that stop sign, they meant it. The bumpers for them added an additional 12 inches on to their wheel base, shutting down the ramp to most everyone. I had the task at the Motorola Mid-west regional to try to get on the ramp against them, and even with us pushing at full power and our partner pushing us, we couldn't get on.

As for what FIRST inteneded with bumpers, I don't think they ever really said that. (At least I never heard...) My feelings were that they were implemented to help protect the robot since there was no rebuild period after each regional. But as with anything FIRST gives us in the kits or rules, creativity flows and intresting things happen....

Dave Hurt


: I know everything is over now but I was just wondering if anyone else thought that some of the bumpers that where used where not intended to do what FIRST set out to accomplish. I just thought that some teams utilized them as more then just a protection devise for there robot. Not to mention some didn't even seem to protect there robot at all but did try to harm others. Well let me know your thoughts.
: Thanks

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Posted by Michael Martus.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Coach on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central H.S. and Delphi Automotives Systems.

Posted on 4/13/2000 3:44 PM MST


In Reply to: Bumpers posted by Tom Sivert on 4/12/2000 6:25 PM MST:



Chief Delphi was a team that used the bumper. Ours was certainly energy absorbing. This was evident by the constant repair of pulling it back out at the end of each match. In Chicago it was totally destroyed while the other team #1 Juggernauts ( a great team )did not even have a scratch from the collision. It did what it was designed for. It protected the gears and chain on our Swerve system while not damaging other machines in a collision.

Hey, and by the way, it was a great location to put our name!

Yes, I did see several teams with a very ridged structure, but by definition even a bar of steel is energy absorbing at some point.