Bumper rules

[beandip3160]

if we have a three inch foam noodle diameter for our bumpers will it be ok as long as it fits within the other parameters

[Grim Tuesday]

No, it will not. If worst comes to worst, just make the rest of your bumpers, and order noodles off of Amazon, and put them on at competition.

[beandip3160]

ok thanks i will tell the rest of the team

[Brandon Zalinsky]

Ok, that helps me as well. Ours are 2-1/4 inches. I didn't think it would be too big of a deal. Thanks so much!

[beandip3160]

yeah the rules are a tiny bit vague on that one but im sure its there

[Grim Tuesday]

Relevant rule:

Bumpers must be constructed as follows (see Figure 4‑4):
be backed by ¾ in. (nominal) thick by 5 in. tall plywood.
hard Bumper parts (e.g. plywood, fasteners, etc) may not extend more than 1 in. beyond the end of the Frame Perimeter(see Figure 4‑4).


Figure 4-4


use a stacked pair of 2-½ in. “pool noodles” as the bumper cushion material which completely covers the plywood. Cushion material may extend up to 2-½ in. beyond the end of the plywood.
be covered with a rugged, smooth cloth. The cloth must completely enclose all exposed surfaces of the plywood and pool noodle material. The fabric covering the Bumpers must be a solid red or blue in color. Visually, the red or blue must be as close to the corresponding color in the FIRST logo as reasonable (i.e. to a reasonably astute observer, they appear similar). The only markings permitted on the Bumper fabric cover are the team number (see Rule [R35]).
must attach to the Frame Perimeter of the Robot with a rigid fastening system to form a tight, robust connection to the main structure/frame (e.g. not attached with Velcro). The attachment system must be designed to withstand vigorous game play. All removable fasteners (e.g. bolts, locking pins, pip-pins, etc.) will be considered part of the Bumpers.
Each set of Bumpers (including any fasteners and/or structures that attach them to the Robot) must weigh no more than 20 lbs.

Emphasis mine.

[its da PAT!!!]

Originally Posted by Grim Tuesday

No, it will not. If worst comes to worst, just make the rest of your bumpers, and order noodles off of Amazon, and put them on at competition.

You can get noodles from AndyMark with material and all in one stop.

[beandip3160]

Originally Posted by its da PAT!!!

You can get noodles from AndyMark with material and all in one stop.

thanks a lot ill mention it to the mentors.

[Brandon Zalinsky]

wait so will our 2-1/4 noodles make us fail inspection? we can't find any 2.5 and we don't want to order them.

[its da PAT!!!]

Yes, and I wouldn't take the chance of it passing inceptions...

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by Flak-Bait

wait so will our 2-1/4 noodles make us fail inspection? we can't find any 2.5 and we don't want to order them.

2.25 <> 2.5, right?

Also, you should look at the Q&A from time to time:

Q. We can only find 2.25" pool noodles for the bumpers. Is there a tolerance on the diameter for the pool noodles? Can the 2.25" noodles be used for the bumpers?
FRC4107 2012-02-09
A. No.

[Retired Starman]

Robot rules are really "specifications". Specifications are what the customer demands when contracting with an engineering firm for work to be done. While you may see no reason for meeting the specifications, the customer does. You may not know, for instance, that the robot you are being asked to design has to easily go through a narrow door. Build it to big and the customer can't use it.

Get used to meeting specifications rather than trying to get around them. The bumper specification says 2.5 in noodles. You may not want to order them, but that may be the only way you can get them at this time of year. So order them or don't complain when an inspector asks you to replace your too-small noodles with the specified size.

When the end of next summer rolls around, you can buy all the noodles you will need for next year's robot on clearance at any department store. Plan ahead.

Dr. Bob

Chairman's Award is not about building the robot. Every team builds a robot.

[SteveGPage]

Originally Posted by Flak-Bait

wait so will our 2-1/4 noodles make us fail inspection? we can't find any 2.5 and we don't want to order them.

Don't know if you have a Target near by, but I was able to find the exact ones we got from AndyMark, tonight.