Bumper Number

[Jon Stratis]

The GDC posted two rulings regarding circular robots on the Q&A:
https://frc-qa.usfirst.org/Question/203/questionlink

A. For the purposes of [R22], a round FRAME PERIMETER will be treated as a series of infinite corners. As such, each corner would require at least 8 in. of BUMPER on each side. In the example of a circular FRAME PERIMETER, the entire FRAME PERIMETER would require BUMPERS.

And https://frc-qa.usfirst.org/Question/272/questionlink

You're right, our apologies for the contradiction. Q203 has been refined. For the purposes of [R31], there are no corners.

In other words, for determining bumper coverage, a circular has an infinite number of corners. For determining team number placement, it has no corners.

As Don pointed out, this is using common sense. The intent of the rules is to have the bumpers be the first thing to contact in an impact, and for the numbers to be visible regardless of robot orientation. Of course circular robots are required to have bumpers all the way around, and of course they need numbers on them in a way that unambiguously shows the team number to any observer.

[lorem3k]

Al,
Could you tell me where you saw this ruling? I wasn't aware if it, I was only speaking from a mathematical standpoint. Sorry for the confusion.

EDIT: Ninja'd. Thanks Jon.

[Bill_B]

Since you have a 4-digit team number, I don't see how having it appear twice on a side will cause confusion. If your team number were 43, for instance, appearing twice could make someone think they were looking at team 4343's machine.

I'm still waiting to see someone make a round or oval robot. I've seen hexagons in the past and an octagon this year. If we retain the perimeter limit to robot size, someone will eventually discover how to make the maximum area for a given perimeter. I'm also still trying to imagine a game which makes that area significant.