Bumper Numbers?

[ksafin]

For whatever reason I can't find last years game manual, so I come to seek out an answer.

As far as bumper numbers go, if we satisfy the size requirements, can we make the design/color whatever we want?

We wanted to make our numbers in our team font and color this year.

[SenorZ]

Changes sometimes. Checklist says in white, or outlined in white. So don't get too crazy or you'll be repainting at competition.

Checklist

[Saberbot]

I found a PDF of the manual here.

According to R35

[R35] Teams shall display their team number on the Bumpers in four locations at approximately 90° intervals
around the perimeter of the Robot. The numerals must be at least 4 in. high, at least ¾ in. in stroke
width, and be either white in color or outlined in white. Team numbers must be clearly visible from a
distance of not less than 100 ft, so that judges, referees, and announcers can easily identify competing
Robots.

Any color you want, as long as you have a white outline and meet the size and placement requirements.

[ksafin]

Neat.

It doesn't really specify how thick of an outline, though.. Which is troubling because we could technically make either a 1mm outline or a 1 cm outline with a huge difference.

[daniel_dsouza]

EDIT: Saberbot beat me to it.

I've attached the manual. Last year, we used GIMP to create numerals that satisfied the number dimensions.

[CalTran]

Make em whatever color you want as long as it's red and blue. The numbers will probably still be 4" .25" stroke. The odd colors make good demo bumpers though

[Walter Deitzler]

Originally Posted by CalTran

Make em whatever color you want as long as it's red and blue. The numbers will probably still be 4" .25" stroke. The odd colors make good demo bumpers though

Yes, they make VERY good demos.

See:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/38135

So...Beautiful...

[cgmv123]

Don't forget that the bumper rules are supposed to undergo significant revision for 2013. Anything stated here is obviously according to previous years' rules.

[vhcook]

Before you get too far into this, keep in mind that the rule may not be the same this year. (The GDC has made changes on the color/outline part in each of the last three years, although I'd bet the size and stroke width is going to be the same).

As a scout, I've always been fond of very white or bright yellow on the blue or red background. Dark numbers outlined thinly in white, while less challenging than unoutlined numbers, are usually still quite difficult to read from the back half of the stands. This is particularly painful when the team numbers are all pretty similar and the fonts and colors chosen make it hard to tell (as a random example) 2345 from 2346, when they're both in the same alliance and one robot is partially obstructed by the other in starting position.

[Doc Wu]

I'll echo the sentiments about not reading too much onto this year's requirements from last years rules.

Bumper numbers were enough of an issue to inspections last year, that I'd be surprised if they weren't more specifically defined this year.

With more and more people watching online with fuzzy at best video feeds and with events taking place in bigger venues where people are sitting further away, the readability of the numbers is more important than ever. It's hard enough for the public to follow our game as it is. The ability to identify their favorite team on the field is necessary.

There are plenty of places on the robot to get creative and artsy. The team numbers on the bumpers is not one of them.

[ttldomination]

Originally Posted by cgmv123

Don't forget that the bumper rules are supposed to undergo significant revision for 2013. Anything stated here is obviously according to previous years' rules.

Can you back this statement with a credible source?

- Sunny G.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Everyone,
The rules for bumper color and team numbers are intended to satisfy a few simple requirements. Those are to identify the alliance (color), and to identify the robot team to both spectators and refs (team numbers). The color requirements are pretty specific to insure you and your alliance partners can identify each other and so that spectators can tell alliances from afar. The team numbers and their visibility should be a prime concern for all teams to insure that penalties and points get assigned to the right team and that judges observing from the field or stands can correctly identify the team they are judging. Your failure to make your team numbers readable from afar compromises your ability to advance and receive recognition. The rules involving split numbers last year had as much to do with game as with bumper design. It is not hard to find white fabric paint pens or vinyl numbers that can be used for both alliance colors. You know you will have to do it later so buy your supplies now when you have no pressure.

[FrankJ]

We have our numbers embroidered on the bumpers. With the computerized embroidery machines, you just have to make sure the width & height is correct. Clearly readable for afar.

The Game manual is on the First web und game and season info\archived game....

[ksafin]

What if our numbers are fully white, but in a more stylized font (our official team font).

Our official team font is http://www.dafont.com/alien-encounters.font

I think it'd be very readable from afar if put in white, but that'll be up for determination during build season.

[gyroscopeRaptor]

Originally Posted by ksafin

What if our numbers are fully white, but in a more stylized font (our official team font).

Our official team font is http://www.dafont.com/alien-encounters.font

I think it'd be very readable from afar if put in white, but that'll be up for determination during build season.

I would have them in the solid versions of the font. Be sure they meet the stroke requirements as well.

Our team's main font, DINPro, has several weights and we used the thickest possible and it just barely fit the criteria.