Is FRC giving high CG robots a free pass on defense?

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Guys, there are a lot of other factors in the possibility for tipping. A robot with bumpers at the lowest position coming in contact with a robot bumper in the high position may very well hit in such a manner that the action of the bumper will force a change in attitude. I think that the video at the beginning of this post is a demonstration of this principle. High COG helped it along, but look at the bumper to bumper interaction. Energy is transferred from the bumper contact. (Of course the video is not as close as the ref view would have been.) It is a real task to write the bumper rule so that teams get the protection they need, the design freedom to handle game pieces and the intent to minimize tipping during robot to robot interaction.