Are extensions with bumpers after the start of the game legal

[Tristan Lall]

Originally Posted by staplemonx

We are looking to increase our surface area to make a better blocking robot after the autonomous period and before the end game. To do that we want to extend out to fill the 84 cylinder and block as much of the scoring lane as possible. If we include the bumper on the extensions as part of robot dimensions are we legal?

The tan objects represent the extensions in their starting positions. The colored objects represent the base and the extensions in their blocking configuration.

The thing to remember is that the extensible things aren't bumpers in the conventional sense—mainly because they fail <R07> part B—even though they may look like bumpers. To that end, they need to satisfy all rules, one of which dictates that nothing may overhang the frame perimeter in starting configuration (<R14>).

And you can't declare it part of the frame perimeter, since the frame perimeter must be composed of non-articulated elements—you'd fail inspection on account of <R12>.