<R31> Regarding Split numbered bumpers

[rsisk]

Originally Posted by Qbot2640

Five out of six judges said it was fine...

inspectors wear yellow hats
Referees wear striped shirts
Judges wear blue polo shirts

If judges were telling you your bumpers were wrong, go find an inspector and set them straight

[Qbot2640]

Originally Posted by rsisk

inspectors wear yellow hats
Referees wear striped shirts
Judges wear blue polo shirts

If judges were telling you your bumpers were wrong, go find an inspector and set them straight

I mis-spoke - they were "inspectors" during the initial check-in inspection.

Still my main point - it is not worth the risk.

[EricLeifermann]

I'm assuming that the split is only on the front/back of the robot. If that is the case the left/right sides will have their numbers easily seen and all continuous. There are numbers on 4 sides on the robot, if you are having trouble seeing the number from 1 side wait 5 sec and odds are the robot will turn and you will see a different side. The rules this year allow split numbers so I wouldn't worry about splitting your numbers over 2 bumpers. There is also no rule that says if your bumpers are covered by something during a match that you still have to be able to read them.

That said 2826 isn't splitting our numbers over our bumpers.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Qbot2640

Five out of six judges inspectors said it was fine...the sixth wouldn't budge,...

If the sixth inspector was the Lead Robot Inspector, it's his or her job to make the final decision. All the other inspectors defer to the LRI's "opinion".

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by Qbot2640

I VERY STRONGLY advise against this split. Last year we had to totally re-construct our front and rear bumper at Championship over an interpretation that was just as "trivial."

Last year there was no wiggle in the interpretation, they could not be split. This year there is a easy interpretation of the rule and split numbers are legal.
Al

[Qbot2640]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Last year there was no wiggle in the interpretation, they could not be split. This year there is a easy interpretation of the rule and split numbers are legal.
Al

I apologize for not being completely clear - the "last year issue" I refer to had nothing to do with split team numbers. The "Lead Inspector" in our situation did not make an immediate decision, attempting to see if consensus would develop, when it did not, he supported the decision of the original inspector. It was our team's distinct impression, however, that he would not have found issue with the situation otherwise.

I am only trying to make the point that there are some times when an interpretation of rules goes a direction you do not expect or possibly agree with. It has seemed to me (and to many others I have spoken with) that inspectors often get a bit zealous with bumper rules. Given how easy it is to fit the numbers neatly on the right or left corner bumper (as demonstrated by the nice 1523 photo above), I would not push my luck on this one. It is much easier to come up with an attractive compromise in the team's robot shop with time and tools and materials, than in an 8X8 pit with the pressure of competition looming and a travel-size subset of team's resources.

[Steve W]

This year if the numbers are split, I as an LRI, would allow according to the present rules. I would suggest that the numbers be close to each other on the sides of the opening. If on opposite sides of the bumper, it would be allowed but as Al said, do you want to be playing Saturday afternoon. If teams miss your number then you may not be chosen.

[toastnbacon]

I would do all that you can to not split your numbers, but if there's no other option, I would split per the xx- -yy option. I think it would be legal (this year) either way. However, all the other pragmatic reasons still stand. It'll be easier for spectators and judges (or refs or whomever) to see, and at the end of the day, that's what matters most. It's the objective of the rules, and if it's achieved, I think the inspectors will let it pass.

That being said, my ruling isn't law. I'll send you a grain of salt later.

[Steve W]

Remember that numbers can be on your bumpers. The - - after and before may not. Al, what's your say?

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by jvriezen

If you have a gap of 16 inches between the split numbers, and your robot is partially obscured by a field element or other robot so that I can't see the other two digits (but can see the gap), then you have ambiguity.

How is that more ambiguous then a robot with contiguous bumper numbers when 2 numbers are obscured by field element?

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

The blue box reference is correct, numbers can be split with the clear intent that numbers be "unambiguous so that Judges, Referees, Announcers, and other Teams can easily identify competing ROBOTS." This may be difficult for teams with numbers 22, 2222, 11, 1111, etc. I tell teams when asked, "you want to play on Saturday, right? Then you have to be sure you can be identified from the stands."

I can see it being an issue for a team 1111 in which the numbers are all split, however, on a normal robot with contiguous numbers on 3 sides and split numbers on the front, that doesn't seem like an issue.