2010 Lesson Learned: The Negative

[Chuck Glick]

My biggest complaint: bumpers.

When rules on bumpers get close to the same length as the robot rules... you have a problem.

1. If they have to be mandatory, then at least let teams choose their own colors and only ban red and blue. Allow teams to show their own team colors. Red and blue mandatory bumpers this year took away from many teams image.

2. Make bumpers optional. If I want to risk my 6 weeks of hard work then so be it. I don't like being told that I have to protect something I worked on. Current bumper rules take away from many frame options. Take the rule back to 2006, where teams could opt to use them and there was the added weight bonus if you chose to.

3. If you keep them mandatory, supply the noodles in the kop. It isn't fair to teams in cold weather states to have to pay a premium compared to teams in warm areas.