pic: MARS 1523 Finished Robot

[45Auto]

To elaborate on IndySam's post:

The string will define your frame perimeter.

Rule R27 says:

[R27]

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 (see Figure 4‑1, Figure 4‑2, and Figure 4‑3).

Therefore you need at least 8 inches of bumper on each side of the front corners of your robot, right?

Rule R33 says:

[R33]

Bumpers must be supported by the structure/frame of the Robot (i.e. each end of the Bumper must be rigidly attached to the Frame Perimeter, the gap between the backing material and the frame must not be greater than ¼ in. and no section of Bumper greater than 8 in. may be unsupported). See Figure 4‑7.

Those concave front members ARE NOT part of your frame perimeter (frame perimeter is defined by the string, remember?)

How are you going to attach 8 inches of bumper to the front of your robot and have it rigidly attached to the frame perimeter?

The rules have pretty well ruled out robots with a concave front.