8 Inch rule?????

[swootton]

We asked a question on the first Q&A and got a very specific answer. YES the bumper has to be 8" and YES the opening will be 11" or so if you load from the front/rear.

[its da PAT!!!]

This is how I see it.

[cgmv123]

Originally Posted by its da PAT!!!

This is how I see it.

That is correct. 8 inches on each side.

[akoscielski3]

Is it just me or should the GDC re-write the bumper rules so that they arent so confusing!

Originally Posted by cgmv123

That is correct. 8 inches on each side.

Does it mean 8 inches for each side of the robot combined, or 8 inches on the robot in a row?

In other words, can we have two sets of 4" bumpers on each vertice (know I spelled it wrong) of our ball intake side making 8 inches total for side, or must we have 8 inches on each of the vertices?

Thanks!

[its da PAT!!!]

If you drive long ways, and you have an opening for a pick up, then you have 8 inch of frame on each side of the pick. Giving you about an 11 inch opening for said pick up.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by SuperNerd256

Does it mean 8 inches for each side of the robot combined, or 8 inches on the robot in a row?

In other words, can we have two sets of 4" bumpers on each vertice (know I spelled it wrong) of our ball intake side making 8 inches total for side, or must we have 8 inches on each of the vertices?

Thanks!

The intent of the rule and the Q&A answers that I've seen has been pretty clear that the 8" is measured from the vertex. That's not 8" per side. That's 8" from the vertex, per side, per vertex.

And on the GDC rewriting the bumper rules so they aren't as confusing, they did, or at least made a stab at it. The problem is that they are having non-100% coverage for the first time since 2009. And instead of having a percentage as they did in 2008(?) and 2009, they specified a length from a corner vertex. The problem is that people are having trouble understanding what "at least 8 in. of Bumper must be placed on each side of each exterior vertex" means (or they may just plain want it to not mean what they understand it means).

Then again... The definition of Bumper may not be clear in that rule. Which is why the very next rule defines how to construct a Bumper, and what a Bumper is.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

4.1.6 Bumper Rules
Robots are required to use Bumpers to protect all exterior vertices of the Frame Perimeter. For adequate
protection, at least 8 in. of Bumper must be placed on each side of each exterior vertex

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by neal

So the frame has to be 8 inches?

Would we have to change both of those 6 inches to 8 inches? If so, that would kinda suck - we'd only have about 11 inches of opening.

Yes. Welcome to FRC.

Originally Posted by SuperNerd256

Does it mean 8 inches for each side of the robot combined, or 8 inches on the robot in a row?

Each vertex has two sides, for a total of eight sides. Each of these eight sides MUST have not less than 8" of bumper, backed by "something substantial".

The least amount of bumper you can get away with is eight 8" long pieces.