Fasteners extending outside the FRAME PERIMETER

[Joe Johnson]

Originally Posted by Paul Copioli

Joe,

Prior to update 6, the fasteners, etc within the bumper zone defined my frame perimeter. After update 6 & 7 they did not. What this means is that all of us who made sure the bolt heads within the bumper zone stuck out more than the bolt heads below the bumper zone to be within the rules are now illegal and it is the start of week 4.

In short, our robot was legal on Thursday, and now it is not. How can you not see a problem with that?

Even more ridiculous, if I have a sheet metal drive base and I have rivets all over it to hold it together, this update makes the rivets below the bumper zone illegal.

Ridiculous

You are right about the idea that if you line up rivet or bolt heads or whatever. I missed/forgot that (I say forgot because I knew it at one point but not at another). I apologize to you, Paul, for not understanding your point of view.

As to the rivets below the bumper zone, unless they were lined up with ones in the bumper zone then they would have always been illegal. Am I right on this?

I see at least 3 possible paths.

1. First, FIRST could realize that they were trying to do one thing and (perhaps) did another instead (by taking away the heads on the bumper zone they took away the head below it) and go to a mixed definition that allows for your heads to be legal as long as they are below heads in the bumper zone but for bumper mounts to be secure.
2. Second, FIRST could allow all fasten heads to count for robot overall size but not for extending beyond the FRAME PERIMETER
3. Third, Teams could mount a small (hopefully light) spacer on the robot at the bumper zone that spaces the FRAME PERIMETER over the tops of the fastners.

I think 2 is the most reasonable given where we are. I don't think they are going to go for it. I suppose 3 is the safest bet because it is in the team's control.

Joe J.