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 ...