Brainstorm: Improving the FRC bumper rules

[GaryVoshol]

I really liked the red/blue colors this year. It made telling alliances apart very easy, even moreso than last year when you might have a red trailer pulled by a blue robot. I understand the team image issues, but perhaps that can be addressed in another manner.

I didn't like most of the removable bumper covers I saw - they looked shoddy. Add to that some very amateurish numbering methods. C'mon, let's try to make these machines look like the high-tech and high-class robots that they (usually) are.

I agree that the rules are too complex, without getting to what the GDC really wants. When too many smart teams can misinterpret the rules and show up with defective bumpers, the rules aren't written clearly enough.

I'm not sure why the frame perimeter cannot have concavities. As long as each section of the frame is at least 6" long and protected by an adequate bumper, why can't there be a pocket?

As for the bolthead and rivet rule, don't get me started ...

[nikeairmancurry]

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

I really liked the red/blue colors this year. It made telling alliances apart very easy, even moreso than last year when you might have a red trailer pulled by a blue robot. I understand the team image issues, but perhaps that can be addressed in another manner.

I didn't like most of the removable bumper covers I saw - they looked shoddy. Add to that some very amateurish numbering methods. C'mon, let's try to make these machines look like the high-tech and high-class robots that they (usually) are.

I agree that the rules are too complex, without getting to what the GDC really wants. When too many smart teams can misinterpret the rules and show up with defective bumpers, the rules aren't written clearly enough.

I'm not sure why the frame perimeter cannot have concavities. As long as each section of the frame is at least 6" long and protected by an adequate bumper, why can't there be a pocket?

As for the bolthead and rivet rule, don't get me started ...

My teams main issue with the bumper rules this year. Our design had two concavities, those such allowed the ball to roll under the robot without going the 3 inches under the robot. It was a genius idea on our part, and the refs at our first event thought it was awesome.

When we were asked to change the design, our main issue was, what advantage did we gain by doing this? We were never given an answer by the GDC or and Inspector, but we did comply and change the design in about two hours at the Troy District Event.

[pfreivald]

Originally Posted by nikeairmancurry

When we were asked to change the design, our main issue was, what advantage did we gain by doing this? We were never given an answer by the GDC or and Inspector, but we did comply and change the design in about two hours at the Troy District Event.

I have no problem with the answer to many rules questions being, "Because we said so."

I usually revise that when my students ask that question of me. I say, "To make it harder."