Regarding Rule<R08> part M(Bumper attatchment)

[Vikesrock]

Originally Posted by spacegy4

Is supporting the bumper along its length sufficient or does it also need to be supported on all 4 sides. We'd like to attach it with a row of screws to a 1" square extrusion running the length of the side of the robot.

Thanks-
Spacegy4
Team 639 Code Red robotics

I'm confused, how would you legally support the bumper on all four sides? Anything supporting a part of the bumper other than the back would be the farthest outboard part of your robot and thus define your bumper perimeter which your bumpers would no longer be sitting on.

Your method of attachment sounds like it should satisfy the rule. I would suggest avoiding screws however as they will make it more difficult to attach and remove your bumpers,

[spacegy4]

Originally Posted by Vikesrock

I'm confused, how would you legally support the bumper on all four sides? Anything supporting a part of the bumper other than the back would be the farthest outboard part of your robot and thus define your bumper perimeter which your bumpers would no longer be sitting on.

Your method of attachment sounds like it should satisfy the rule. I would suggest avoiding screws however as they will make it more difficult to attach and remove your bumpers,

Sorry we mean all 4 sides of the robot.

We would only be attaching it along the length of the robot.

[Vikesrock]

Ok, I think I get what you're saying. I will try to answer generally so you may get your answer even if I have the wrong idea bout what you mean.


There are two issues at play here.

1. <R08>-M states that a bumper must be fully back along it's length. This means that every bumper segment on your robot must have a structural backing along the entire length of the plywood portion of the bumper.

2.<R08>-I states that all exterior corners of your robot must be protected by bumpers. The GDC has clarified through the Q&A that this means that both sides of the corner must be protected.

Taking these two rules together, barring atypical designs like corners that are very round (and may avoid being "corners") or sides less than 12" long it would appear that you need at least 12" of bumper with a robot structure behind it on each side of your robot.

[spacegy4]

Originally Posted by Vikesrock

Ok, I think I get what you're saying. I will try to answer generally so you may get your answer even if I have the wrong idea bout what you mean.


There are two issues at play here.

1. <R08>-M states that a bumper must be fully back along it's length. This means that every bumper segment on your robot must have a structural backing along the entire length of the plywood portion of the bumper.

2.<R08>-I states that all exterior corners of your robot must be protected by bumpers. The GDC has clarified through the Q&A that this means that both sides of the corner must be protected.

Taking these two rules together, barring atypical designs like corners that are very round (and may avoid being "corners") or sides less than 12" long it would appear that you need at least 12" of bumper with a robot structure behind it on each side of your robot.

It would really help if I could know if structural backing meant structural as to maintain its strength or structural as in made part of the robots main structure.

[Vikesrock]

Originally Posted by spacegy4

It would really help if I could know if structural backing meant structural as to maintain its strength or structural as in made part of the robots main structure.

This would help everyone

For now, this is what we have (in addition to the rule itself):

http://forums.usfirst.org/showthread.php?t=11349

No. The intent of Rule <R08-M> is to ensure that sufficient structural reinforcement is provided to the BUMPERS to allow them to withstand the high-speed, high-energy impacts that are likely to occur during a typical Lunacy MATCH without failing. A simple flat 1/8-inch aluminum plate mounted on standoffs is unlikely to provide the required structural support for the BUMPERS.