Is this legal (Bumpers)?

[yoshibrock]

Is this legal? Sorry about the quality by the way, I draw faster by hand then in paint

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/STRXhahvXQF64xMHxX2wBg?authkey=Gv1sRgCOC8s6vpmcqtK g&feat=directlink

The bumper goes inside the c-brackets, which are mounted on a piece of the kit frame. This is what's currently on our robot, and it takes a bit of work to get big c-channel, so we'd like it to stay if possible.

However, I'm worried that it wouldn't be considered "Robust" by the inspection officers, but I'm not sure. What do you think?

[yoshibrock]

I'm not completely sure, but I think the bumpers will slide into the c-brackets and be pinned/bolted in place. What worries me more is whether or not the "kitbot" chassis bar is wide enough (up and down) to be considered robust. It feels robust, but even I admit that it looks kinda wimpy

And I'd like to show a picture, but it's kinda secretive....plus I don't have a picture.

[nitneylion452]

I don't think so, namely because the c brackets may be called part of the frame, or because the connection will not be robust. Here's a suggestion that has no gray area (It's what we're using on our robot):

http://www.mcmaster.com/#threaded-inserts/=5rizbc

Hope that helps.

(Ignore what I said before)

[yoshibrock]

What exactly are the inserts to be used for? The c-bracket part of the frame is liable to change to fit rules. It's the other part, the part the c-brackets are mounted on that worries me. Thanks for the suggestion though.

[nitneylion452]

You would put the inserts into the plywood and put a bolt in through the opposite side. This gives you the ability to remove the bumpers simply by removing a few bolts.

[yoshibrock]

Oh! That is a good idea, thanks. But what do you think about using the kit-bot frame as a holder for the bumpers? Is it strong enough?

[daltore]

Something like this? This is the one our team is using, and it's working spectacularly well.

[Hito Seika]

Hay when you attach your bumpers to the robot, do you have to use the bolts like in Figure 8-1 in the rule book?

[EricH]

The specific wording is found in <R07-I>:

I. BUMPERS must attach to the FRAME PERIMETER of the ROBOT with a rigid fastening system to form a tight, robust connection to the main structure/frame (e.g. not attached with Velcro). The attachment system must be designed to withstand vigorous game play – nut and bolt fasteners are recommended. All removable fasteners (e.g. bolts, locking pins, pip-pins, etc.) will be considered part of the BUMPERS.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

It is hard for me to make a decision on the drawing alone. The first thing I would question is whether this design allows for the 1" limit for hard parts in the bumper here...
N. “Hard” parts of the BUMPER (i.e. plywood backing, fastening system, and clamping angles) may extend up to a maximum of one inch beyond the FRAME PERIMETER. “Soft” parts of the BUMPERS (i.e. pool noodles and cloth covering) may extend up to 3½ inches beyond the FRAME PERIMETER.

The second would be the method of attachment as it applies here...
I. BUMPERS must attach to the FRAME PERIMETER of the ROBOT with a rigid fastening system to form a tight, robust connection to the main structure/frame (e.g. not attached with Velcro). The attachment system must be designed to withstand vigorous game play – nut and bolt fasteners are recommended. All removable fasteners (e.g. bolts, locking pins, pip-pins, etc.) will be considered part of the BUMPERS.

The third would be to check that the support structure is in fact entirely within the bumper zone.

And finally a quick check of the various Team Updates and Q&A responses pertaining to sizing, FRAME PERIMETER, and frame structure.

I am not sure that your design would pass the test on all of these.

[yoshibrock]

Thanks for all the help everyone! Out of concern for the legality of our bumper system, we've decided to update our "bumper frame" per se to full sized c-channel. We'll ensure we follow all the other rules as well. Thanks for the help, and good luck in these last couple of weeks!