Bumper question

[EricH]

Originally Posted by slijin

You're looking for [R33]; if the width of the gap >= 8", then it can only go 1/4" in; otherwise, there seems to be no apparent limit other than your bot itself.

Ah, but if you don't have a bumper in that section, then there is no limit at all! Well, unless you happen to like having two half-robots.

[buildmaster5000]

What defines the bumper zone this year?? In the past, I remember it being from 1 to 7 inches above the ground (2010 excluded. Bumpers were higher that year), but I cannot seem to find where the "bumper zone" is defined in the manual.

Both <R01> and <R29> reference a "bumper zone" for those who are wondering. Please tell me that bumpers are going to be like the height limit last year, waiting for Q&A to open to ask a question that will greatly impact designs...

[JChavis]

Since it seems that we are already talking about a square U shape for our bumpers, how should teams go around and place their team numbers on the side with the split bumper?

Should teams place the numbers like this:

1. [0000]_______[____]
2. [000_]_______[____]
3. [00__]_______[____]


Or like this:

4. [__00]_______[00__]
5. [__00]_______[0___]
6. [___0]_______[0___]


Our number is 3490, and I am thinking we should split the numbers across the face of the split side (#4).

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by JChavis

Since it seems that we are already talking about a square U shape for our bumpers, how should teams go around and place their team numbers on the side with the split bumper?

Should teams place the numbers like this:

1. [0000]_______[____]
2. [000_]_______[____]
3. [00__]_______[____]


Or like this:

4. [__00]_______[00__]
5. [__00]_______[0___]
6. [___0]_______[0___]


Our number is 3490, and I am thinking we should split the numbers across the face of the split side (#4).

As a ref, I would prefer method 1/2/3. I want to be able to see the whole number at one time. With method 4, I might get confused between 3490 and teams 34 or 90. Methods 5 and 6 seem particulary obnoxious to me - I think it's the single digit by itself that looks bad (unless you are one of those single digit teams!).

I wouldn't have a problem at all with [3490]_______[3490], provided you don't use one of those numbers as a substitute for the number being on another face of the robot. But as Eric mentioned, you should probably clear it through Q&A.

[Brighid.b]

To everyone, if you are using a multidimensional frame do bumpers need to cover both the bottom and upper deck?? Or is it ok to have the bumpers a tad bit lower then the upper deck but still within bumper zone? And attached to lower deck?

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Brig,
The bumpers must be attached to the frame perimeter and be between 2" and 10" above the floor when the robot is flat on the floor. The frame perimeter is the outermost extent of the frame in the bumper zone. Nothing can extend beyond the Frame Perimeter except the single appendage that may deployed during the match. If the upper deck and lower deck are different dimensions but both exist within the bumper zone, only one can define the frame perimeter. As stated, the perimeter is established by wrapping a string around the exterior vertices of the robot. Remember that in this critical discussion, a team must satisfy all bumper rules. Whatever part of the robot is the larger, the bumpers must be attached to it and it must fit in the size constraints. To add one more item, while bolt heads, welds and other protuberances may cause gaps behind the bumper, the robot must fit into the sizing box with the protuberances. At no time can small items be larger than the specified dimensions given in the robot rules.

[usacat6]

Still need clarification about gaps along a frame edge. Assuming Figure 4-1 in the bumper-rule section, and assuming that the displayed bumper segments are such that the portion covering a given edge is 8" (measured from corner to middle of frame), then is there a maximum length of the remaiming exposed frame, or does the amount of exposure not matter?

[EricH]

Originally Posted by usacat6

Still need clarification about gaps along a frame edge. Assuming Figure 4-1 in the bumper-rule section, and assuming that the displayed bumper segments are such that the portion covering a given edge is 8" (measured from corner to middle of frame), then is there a maximum length of the remaiming exposed frame, or does the amount of exposure not matter?

As long as you have the 8" bumper segments from the corners, there is no maximum length of exposed frame. There is also no minimum length of exposed frame.

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by usacat6

Still need clarification about gaps along a frame edge. Assuming Figure 4-1 in the bumper-rule section, and assuming that the displayed bumper segments are such that the portion covering a given edge is 8" (measured from corner to middle of frame), then is there a maximum length of the remaiming exposed frame, or does the amount of exposure not matter?

Well there is a maximum length, since your frame can only be 38" in total. 38 - (2*8) = 22 inches. However, if your frame is smaller, then the maximum exposed part is smaller.

The 8" bumper on corner rule doesn't say anything about what can be in between those corners. It could be an opening (to suck up balls, perhaps?) or it could be an exposed piece of frame. It's whatever your team wants to do within the flexibility of the rules.

[Steven Donow]

Originally Posted by KevinGoneNuts

While I have you all here. I also have a bumper question. Attached is a picture of a bumper idea, after reading the rules it seems that this is alright? I want to be 100% sure. Does it seem okay to you?


Attachment 11290

In contrast to this, if the bumper sections on the right and left of the 12" gap were 4", that would be illegal, right?(This was already kinda answered, but just making sure). Because I know Figures 4.1-4.3 aren't exactly drawn to scale, but they imply otherwise.

[Ernst]

Yes. You need a minimum of 8 inches of bumper on each side of each exterior vertex.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by stevend1994

In contrast to this, if the bumper sections on the right and left of the 12" gap were 4", that would be illegal, right?(This was already kinda answered, but just making sure). Because I know Figures 4.1-4.3 aren't exactly drawn to scale, but they imply otherwise.

No, the 8" specification relates to each side of the vertices in a continuous bumper section. The belief is that something as small as 4" would not protect your robot or another from damage in a collision.

[Cyberphil]

I agree with Al.

The rule states each side of each exterior vertex, which means on one exterior vertex you must have 8" of bumpers on one side and 8" of bumpers on the other side. That means that on the long side of your robot you can have a maximum opening of 22" and on the short side a maximum opening of 12" (assuming your bot is rectangular).

[SenorZ]

I've attached an image from Figure 4-3.
Why is the circled corner not ok?
Is it because
a) it is an interior vertex and cannot be bumper-ed,
b) the adjacent exterior vertex is not covered
c) the straight section of frame connecting it to the exterior vertex is less then 8''

To me it seems like they are saying you can't have a bumper go inside a cut-out. Which is odd.

[Ninja_Bait]

Answer B is covered by the arrow below the one you circled. C is covered in another diagram explaining dimensional rules. A is correct. R27:

Robots are required to use Bumpers to protect all exterior vertices of the Frame Perimeter.

That is not considered an exterior vertex because it is contained in the frame perimeter. The perimeter is defined by the vertical rightmost edge and does not include the inlet.