Question on 3 inch perimeter rule

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Sixis

The frame perimeter is defined as such: "FRAME PERIMETER – the polygon defined by the outer-most set of exterior vertices on the ROBOT". While it does go on to talk about the string, they give an exact definition for each, which further convinces me that the string is no more than a concept. I am not interesting in starting a fight, however this seems like a debatable point which is of interest to me.

Yep, and because it is "exterior vertices", the inner U is not part of the frame perimeter, because it has 4 vertices: 2 are exterior (at the front of the robot) and 2 are interior (the inner side of the U).

One method that we've been using to describe this is instead of string, use a rubber band. Wrap it around the robot (in your mind--that's a huge rubber band!) in the bumper zone. Follow the rubber band; that's your frame perimeter.

As for the string being able to be pulled into the U, I believe they meant to say, "wrap a string tightly around the robot at the level of the bumper zone".


As you guys are rookies, you probably don't know about the massive debates we had last year about what was and wasn't a legal bumper configuration. It was so bad that at one point someone posted a legal configuration and the comment was made that they couldn't do that because then we'd have nothing to talk about. Look it up and see just how discussed it was--it'll be informative at worst and enlightening at best.