Changing bumper colors

[GaryVoshol]

<R07>:

H. BUMPERS must be designed for quick and easy installation and removal, to aid in weighing and inspection (as a guideline, BUMPERS should be removable by one person in less than ten minutes).

But,

<T13> At the conclusion of a MATCH, all players shall remain in their assigned locations until the Head Referee issues the “field-reset” signal. Once the Head Referee issues this signal, the 3-minute “match-reset” period will begin. The ARENA must be cleared of ROBOTS from the MATCH just ended, and the ROBOTS and OPERATORS CONSOLES for the following MATCH must be placed in position and ready to start before the expiration of the “match-reset” period. Field Attendants will reset the ARENA elements during this time.

And,

<T20> During the elimination rounds, if circumstances require an ALLIANCE to play in back-to-back MATCHES, they will be granted an additional minute of set-up time to reset and allow their ROBOTS to cool down.

(all emphasis mine)

Sometimes during the eliminations, alliances switch from being red to blue or vice versa, and have to play back-to-back. You'd better be able to change your bumper colors in 4 minutes or less.

[Peter Matteson]

I recommed ball lock spring pins. Zero to bumper in 15 seconds.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#pins/=5bx5nm

[Jack Jones]

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

<R07>:


But,

And,(all emphasis mine)

Several times during the eliminations, alliances switch from being red to blue or vice versa. You'd better be able to change your bumper colors in 4 minutes or less.

Are you fishing for questions? Such as, what if we build two sets of bumpers, one red - one blue? Would they have to be weighed in together, and weigh less than 20 pounds combined?

[Peter Matteson]

In the rules <R07> they clearly say you can have 2 sets of bumpers at 20 lbs each. IMO take advantage of the rule and make 2 sets and do a quick change.

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Originally Posted by Jack Jones

Are you fishing for questions? Such as, what if we build two sets of bumpers, one red - one blue? Would they have to be weighed in together, and weigh less than 20 pounds combined?

No. He's saying that bumper color will need to be changeable within 4 minutes because of the field reset rules.

[iqjavier]

These new bumper changing things are going to be pretty neat.

[petek]

<R12 B>: The BUMPERS may be constructed with a fabric covering of one color (see Rule <R07-F>), and then covered with a removable fabric shroud of the opposite color when appropriate. (snip)

The kickoff video showed the use of a removable bumper cover - see it at 5:36 in this video.

[GaryVoshol]

Yes, but <G46> says, "a. Bumper covers must not detach, even unintentionally, from the ROBOT. Violation: PENALTY." That cover in kickoff didn't look like it was robustly attached.

[CrazyCarl461]

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

Sometimes during the eliminations, alliances switch from being red to blue or vice versa, and have to play back-to-back.

Elimination rounds are often played back-to-back but they are usually within the same bracket level and alliances never switch colors within the same bracket. The only time this would be an issue is if you were the last group to finish a given bracket level and were in the first group of the next. From my experience, they draw the time out between elimination bracket levels a bit since at least one alliance in the next level would have had at least one round of rest and the other may or may not have.

[kjolana1124]

This might end up playing a role in driver and/or pit crew selection. Kind of like battery management. I wonder how strongly they're going to be enforcing this rule, seeing as there are often field issues and whatnot anyway

[johnr]

Originally Posted by Peter Matteson

I recommed ball lock spring pins. Zero to bumper in 15 seconds.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#pins/=5bx5nm

Has your team used this or is it just an idea? If used, how many on, let's say, the long side? How well did it hold up during the season?

[Peter Matteson]

Originally Posted by johnr

Has your team used this or is it just an idea? If used, how many on, let's say, the long side? How well did it hold up during the season?

We used 6 (six) to hold on all bumpers last year. One at each corner and one on the inside of each short section across the font. Also our bumpers were essentialy continuous fabric around the perimeter to help.

I think no more than 2 a side are necessary and if you use the same one in the corner to hold 2 sides as we did last year 4 total is all you need this year.

[kjolana1124]

We've used these for a few years now. We tend to use three on each long side.

[Kage]

Originally Posted by iqjavier

These new bumper changing things are going to be pretty neat.

I think it is going to be a pain in the butt...
I dont like the fact that we have to change such a large component of our robot to indicate our team color. I kind of wish that they would do something else for that purpose.

In the past, our teams bumpers have been pretty much permanant...The only times we ever had to take them off was to weigh the robot, and to get it to fit into the crate for shipping...

Now we have to change them almost every match? that just seems a bit rediculous...

I COMPLETELY do not trust bumper covers. They seem too easy to remove, no matter HOW you design them...I dont think that capability is worth the chance of a penalty

[waialua359]

does anyone know which blue is required for the bumpers?
I called Seattle Fabrics and they have 2 types: Royal and Navy Blue.
Im thinking it doesnt matter, but just wanted to make sure.

When we asked, teams that called earlier didnt know and they themselves have not been told by FIRST if it had to be a specific one.
Dont want to base it from the video and the video alone.