Robot intentionally tipping over

[Daniel_LaFleur]

R22
BUMPERS must be located entirely within the BUMPER ZONE, which is the volume contained between two virtual horizontal planes, 4 in. above the floorand 12 in. above the floor, in reference to the ROBOT standing normally on a flat floor. BUMPERS do not have to be parallel to the floor.

Emphasis mine

Originally Posted by Glossary

FRAME PERIMETER
the polygon defined by the outer-most set of exterior vertices on the ROBOT (without the BUMPERS attached) that are within the BUMPER ZONE. To determine the FRAME PERIMETER, wrap a piece of string around the ROBOT at the level of the BUMPER ZONE - the string describes this polygon

When the robot "flops" the BUMPER ZONE does not change due to orientation of the robot (r22). Thus the FRAME PERIMETER does not change due to orientation change.

As long as you can extend wheels to the 'flopped' side (and keep it within the 15" extension rules) flopping looks legal to me.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Guys,
The intention is that any robot to robot contact occur only within the bumper zone to prevent damage to robots. The bumper zone is tested and evaluated when the robot wheels are on a level surface and bumpers may not be articulated (i.e. moving). If the robot changes robot frame to floor dimensions, I would expect the Q&A would respond that the bumper zone still has to be satisfied. As ruled in the past, if the bumpers are angled, they still had to satisfy the bumper zone requirement. That allows bumpers to be mounted higher on one side of the robot and lower on another side.
While the 2016 bumper rules are very close to those in the past, the only real answer can be obtained from the Q&A.

[AndyBare]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Guys,
The intention is that any robot to robot contact occur only within the bumper zone to prevent damage to robots. The bumper zone is tested and evaluated when the robot wheels are on a level surface and bumpers may not be articulated (i.e. moving). If the robot changes robot frame to floor dimensions, I would expect the Q&A would respond that the bumper zone still has to be satisfied. As ruled in the past, if the bumpers are angled, they still had to satisfy the bumper zone requirement. That allows bumpers to be mounted higher on one side of the robot and lower on another side.
While the 2016 bumper rules are very close to those in the past, the only real answer can be obtained from the Q&A.

I agree, and I think that the simplest answer they could give would be changing "when the robot is standing normally on the floor" in R22 to "until the robot is scaling the tower" That would clean up a lot of this "creative thinking."

That being said, I think creative thinking is awesome, and it'd be totally cool if they allowed it. I want to see robots do the limbo.