8 Inch rule?????

[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.

[neal]

Originally Posted by EricH

8" from the vertex of the frame perimeter on each side of the vertex of the frame perimeter. Not 8" on the side of the robot. Not 5" on the perimeter + 3" outside the perimeter. 8" from the vertex of the frame perimeter on each side of the vertex of the frame perimeter. The configuration you are proposing should not pass inspection at any event, as it only has 5" on one side of two vertices.

Neal, I would suggest understanding the implications of [R33] as currently written, which says quite clearly that 1) bumpers must be supported by the frame of the robot, 2) as part of that support there is a maximum gap depth or width, and 3) as part of the support the ends of the bumper need to be supported (this particular item was added in Update 2, IIRC). Because of that, you will need at least the equivalent of 8" of frame supporting the bumpers. Yeah, you'd only have 11" of opening on the narrow side. So does everyone else who is smart enough to build their robots 1" undersize to avoid trouble with the size box. At least you're not getting told this at your first regional...

Thanks for clarification, Eric. We did make them 8 inches. Now we just hope our grabber works well with 11" opening.

That would be really bad if we never changed it and they told us at the regionals.