Integrated Bumpers

[BJC]

Originally Posted by Joe G.

Typically, robots with "structural bumpers" aren't at a complete loss of structure without their bumper -- they are still held together as one piece, and don't use the bumper to bridge frame members together. Instead, the bumper, or more specifically, their fastening system, is used to dramatically reinforce or prevent bending of frame members made with extremely light material, which would never stand up to the forces of FRC on their own, and the presence of the bumper is taken into account when sizing other frame members and connections between them. Bumpers may resist any kind of bending, including upwards bending as in the 179 flat panel chassis, torsional bending, or inwards bends from impact.

See here for a whitepaper on 33's system.

We ran this system in 2013 and it worked very well. The only reason we didn't run this system in 2014 was our drivetrain choice made torsional stiffness unnecessary. For 2015, if we choose to use a drivetrain that requires high torsional stiffness (such as 6wd or 8wd) we will definitely be using the bumpers as a central component of the frame. It's simply too much free weight to waste.

Cheers, Bryan