How many people like bumpers?

[IndySam]

Originally Posted by Mr.G

Our design always works good for the bumpers, that is not the problem. The problem is we spend hours finding the right covering and ordering it, finding pool noodles, and taking them on and off to work on the robot and to get it inspected. They also are probably the thing that needs the most constant maintenance on the robot. And to top it all; man are they ugly and make the robot look wimpy.

This competition takes a lot of peoples time to work with the students and I would rather not spend my valuable time with them on bumpers. There is so much more I would like to teach them in that time like: Gear ratios, leverage, acceleration, vector forces, material strengths, motors speed and power, programming, pneumatics and so much more.

Thanks for your view though.

It's a good lesson to learn how to source and research materials.

In two years I have never seen any problems with maintenance or extra time removing our bumpers. The bumpers we have used were easily removed and installed in seconds because we designed them that way.

Figuring out how to make them work and last is a valuable learning experience.

I understand the ugly factor and I can understand people being upset when they are forced to use them but this is the hand we are given lets make the best of it.