Will Your Team Use Bumpers This Year?

[catacon]

Originally Posted by JesseK

However, since we're still using aluminum axles in a WCD setup, we will make wheel guards out of 2x1 to protect our axles from inadvertent clipping of a tote because the totes don't like to move on carpet. This has nothing to do with driver skill or other robots and everything to do with how a bent axle would impact our performance.

Originally Posted by Thad House

Teams that either were around before 2006 or have mentors from before 2006 will know exactly what competition will be like without bumpers. And teams back then worked perfectly fine without them. You just have to make sure to build your frame strong, probably stronger then in previous years.

This.

[JesseK]

Originally Posted by catacon

This.

I don't understand what a frame has to do with axle material choice? It is as much or more effort and weight to make a direct-drive WCP steel axle than it is to make rivet-on wheel guards.

[catacon]

Originally Posted by JesseK

I don't understand what a frame has to do with axle material choice? It is as much or more effort and weight to make a direct-drive WCP steel axle than it is to make rivet-on wheel guards.

I don't really have an opinion on axle materials. I was agreeing with the notion that wheel guards are advantageous in bumperless games. Every bumperless robot that we have designed has at least some aluminum structure protecting the wheels. We have been in many severe collisions with these robots without any effect on the drivetrains.

[JesseK]

Originally Posted by catacon

I don't really have an opinion on axle materials. I was agreeing with the notion that wheel guards are advantageous in bumperless games. Every bumperless robot that we have designed has at least some aluminum structure protecting the wheels. We have been in many severe collisions with these robots without any effect on the drivetrains.

Ah, I thought I may have misread. Cheers

[IndySam]

NO!

[The_ShamWOW88]

Nope, no way, no how...

[dusundavar]

While we are highly enthusiastic about not having bumpers, we don't ignore the fact that collisions aren't entirely avoidable, even with the best drivers. There are simply too many variables.

[Peyton Yeung]

Conversely would you still decline bumpers if the field was open for defense?

[Woetie]

Yes, we will probably use bumpers on our robot but we will try to slim them down compared to previous years cos this makes pick ups easier.
We havent decided yet if we are going to integrate them or not but as stated previously, velcrow is a great option to quickly attach them on the field.
We want bumpers because:
These robots have a lot of force behind them. A direct impact could cause serious damage not only to yourself but also to an alliance partner, the field or maby even a human when using the robot at a demo or when testing. Safely first!
Another reason to still go for bumpers is the fact that with level 6 tote stacks the visability will be limited so the chances of a high speed impact are higher.
And for us a final reason could be (we are still looking into this) is the fact that it helps decallerate the robot on impact making it less likely for carried tote stacks to fall over when hitting for example the steps. ( and you know this is gonna happen with all the pressure the drivers have during a match)

Edit: And bumpers can look super sweet now (imagine our 2014 bumpers in full black with orange highlights) so it adds to the look of your robot

Hope this helps teams to really think carefully before deciding on whether to use bumpers or not. Curious to see what teams come up with.

[NH Swag]

I can say with almost certainty that my team will not be doing bumpers this year. Making bumpers is always the chore that no one wants to do, so it gets postponed to the end of the season when time is scarce.
For what it's worth, team 1831 always make a hyper-sturdy bot. This was proven in 2013 when we fell off the top of the pyramid. Twice, in fact, and we broke nothing. So I don't think that a alliance-member bumping into our bot will hurt us at all.

[Tammyo]

We have not officially decided if we are going to use bumpers on our robot this year. If we do decide to use bumpers, then we may put them on the corners to maintain a lower weight limit and protection.

[fayfan]

3847 won't be using them.

[Thad House]

There was a round of applause at kickoff when Frank announced that. I think that says what teams think about bumpers.

[Koko Ed]

I'm sure if and when FIRST goes back to a game with contact they will bring bumpers back.

[Nathan Streeter]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

I'm sure if and when FIRST goes back to a game with contact they will bring bumpers back.

And when they do, I'll be happy.

The cushioning bumpers provide and the alliance designation really are huge improvements FIRST made to recent games to protect robots in high-interaction games and to clearly distinguish the alliances for drive teams, scouts, and spectators.

That said, I'm also very happy they're not required this year... neither their level of protection nor alliance designation are necessary at all this year. I suspect we may want to use low-profile, lightweight bumpers (such as these) in certain areas of our robot though...