Reversible Bumpers

[Aren Siekmeier]

Interesting stuff in this thread.

We've done two full sets of bumpers the last two years, and I've often thought about maybe going to a cover or reversible fabric, but from the anecdotes here I'm kind of happy with where we are. We use pins that pop in and out to quickly replace the bumpers, and the solid fabric fastening does make it more durable and gives us more options for numbers if we want.

[pfreivald]

Our bumper skirt was problematic and, at the end of the day, looked sloppy. We'll probably be making two sets of bumpers for 2012...

...although I really wish they'd just go back to flags or lights to indicate alliance color. It was a lot less wasteful.

[Jon Stratis]

We used reversible bumpers this year, and will never go back (assuming the rules don't force us to, of course). We had some amazing parent help in doing it - one of the senior's parents came in and worked with a couple of students to pretty much do all of the cutting and sewing in one evening. Assembled them and had no problems the entire season with them.

[Cynette]

1511 used reversible bumpers in 2010 and a single color with a bumper cover forthis year. As the seamstress, this year was much easier, and still had the minimized material use benefits. The bumper cover was very very fitted to avoid the issues that Pat mentioned. As for next year - well its a whole new game!

[JesseK]

I'd be happy if they'd simply let us re-use last year's bumpers, or at least some of the already cut (or sewn) parts of them. There's so much less waste in re-use. Plus we wouldn't have to figure out where to store 3 years' worth of bumpers

[Jon Stratis]

Originally Posted by JesseK

I'd be happy if they'd simply let us re-use last year's bumpers, or at least some of the already cut (or sewn) parts of them. There's so much less waste in re-use. Plus we wouldn't have to figure out where to store 3 years' worth of bumpers

I second this notion... There are two issues with reuse of parts, though: Competitive advantage over other teams (in this case, over rookies), and the educational aspect of designing and building something new. I don't think anyone would argue that the bumpers really provide an educational aspect, given how strict the rules are. So, it just comes down to advantage - rookie teams would have to spend hours making bumpers during the build season. Hours that veteran teams could spend improving their robot.

So, to solve that... Lets get a standard set of bumpers on the FIRST Choice site as an option only available to rookies (either take it or don't, it doesn't replace any other choices). They would assume the "normal" length and width of 90% of FIRST robots (since the complete perimeter rule went into affect). Simple, easy, and would help ensure teams have compliant bumpers. How many rookie teams have you seen that haven't used the KoP frame, sized to the same dimensions?

If you make it easy for rookies to have ready-made bumpers, then re-using bumpers from a previous year doesn't really give any veteran teams an advantage.

Of course, if the bumper rules change, old bumpers may no longer be compliant... And that would be a year for everyone to build new ones.

[JesseK]

Yea I see the competitive advantage aspect of it. Yet I also see it nullified by veteran teams taking hours on practice/competition day to get rookies working to begin with.

[Aren Siekmeier]

If bumpers didn't ship with the robot, the competitive advantage of being able to reuse them would be less so.

[Taylor]

Originally Posted by eagle33199

Lets get a standard set of bumpers on the FIRST Choice site as an option only available to rookies (either take it or don't, it doesn't replace any other choices). They would assume the "normal" length and width of 90% of FIRST robots (since the complete perimeter rule went into affect). Simple, easy, and would help ensure teams have compliant bumpers. How many rookie teams have you seen that haven't used the KoP frame, sized to the same dimensions?

Check. Well, not exactly FIRSTChoice, but it's there.

[Chris is me]

In 2010, we had a skirt and that was no fun. 2011 was two sets of bumpers and MUCH better.

I think having a snap on or velcro on cover for each individual bumper would look better.

[Walter Deitzler]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

In 2010, we had a skirt and that was no fun. 2011 was two sets of bumpers and MUCH better.

I think having a snap on or velcro on cover for each individual bumper would look better.

Our team used skirts for our bumpers this year and we liked them. They made changing color quicker and easier.

[shapiraguy]

1937 used reversible bumpers as can be seen in the following movies:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqqYgxAv1d4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dShWJnY4eXY&NR=1

looked very nice.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

I can only add that any solution should be neat, tight, and should look as good as the rest of your robot. It is like dressing up in a tux, and wearing white socks that don't match, have holes in them and the elastic is all gone.

[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by JesseK

Plus we wouldn't have to figure out where to store 3 years' worth of bumpers

Just throw them away. Thats what we do with them. They make it more difficult to get through door ways, and in and out of vehicles. We just run sans-bumpers once we're done competing with the robot.

-Brando

[Hallry]

Originally Posted by JesseK

I'd be happy if they'd simply let us re-use last year's bumpers, or at least some of the already cut (or sewn) parts of them. There's so much less waste in re-use. Plus we wouldn't have to figure out where to store 3 years' worth of bumpers

Well you can always do this with them.