Is this legal

[Bob92]

[IMG]http://www.chiefdelphi.com/pics/bin/110894473256.jpg[/IMG]


I thought you were not allowed to have angled bumpers. Or am I mistaken? Can someone please clarify.

[BoyWithCape195]

that is there base...i dont think they consider them "bumpers"

[roboguy #1]

Whos gonna say that using picture frames for a chassis is eligit?

[Katie Reynolds]

Originally Posted by Bob92

I thought you were not allowed to have angled bumpers. Or am I mistaken? Can someone please clarify.

Pretty sure it's their base as well - check out the section on bumpers:

<R30>
In order to help reduce the impact forces that the robot will experience during collisions with other robots, teams may add external "bumpers” to the robot. If used, bumpers must satisfy the following constraints:
• Bumpers may extend outside the normal robot starting dimensions (in the horizontal plane) up to 4" per side
• Bumpers must be located in a region from 2” to 8” above the playing field surface.
• Bumpers must not cause the weight of the robot to exceed the weight limit.
• Bumpers must be removable in order to allow the robot starting size to be easily measured during robot inspection.
• Bumpers must be designed to remain attached to the robot for the duration of the match.
• Bumpers and any bumper mounts that extend beyond the robot starting size may not contain “hard” materials such as metal, wood, or hard plastics. The definition of “hard” is one of common sense (i.e., if you can punch it and not hurt your bare hand, it is ok).

It definitely doesn't satisfy the requirements in red.

PS: There's nothing in the section about the (il)legality of 'angeled bumpers'; where do you get that from?

[Jeffrafa]

Based on other pics of their bot i'm sure this is just part of their base design as well.

It would also not fit the rule portion - "Bumpers must be located in a region from 2” to 8” above the playing field surface." that Katie had mentioned, but hadn't put in red.

[ahecht]

Before everyone goes and cried foul, let me point out that the robot in question has no bumpers! The bumper rule only applies to bumpers that extend outside of the 28" by 38" rectangle.


Besides, where's the gracious professionalism in tattling on other teams?

[JVGazeley]

I'd be careful as that may be construed as an aggresive design feature, esp. if you can get underneath other robots with it. Possible DQ.


As above mentioned by several others, it does not appear to conform to Bumper rules regarding ease of removal and hieght off ground as well as materials of construction.

Remember it counts towards the weight limit.

[abeD]

I know of many teams that have employed wedge shapes into their chasis design and have not seen them get dq'd. On my old team for 3 years we employed angles of some sort onto our chasis as well as riding low to the ground. We never were dq'd for it.

[JVGazeley]

It's just a thought. Just be careful not to get under other robots for any period of time.

[ChrisH]

Nothing wrong with the robot in that picture, as long as the robot fits within the box.

[Marc P.]

I don't see anythign wrong with the robot itself in that picture. However, I do see potentially illegal strategy with such a low-riding wedge. From the manual:


<G25> Strategies aimed solely at the destruction, damage, tipping over, or entanglement of ROBOTS are not in the spirit of FIRST Robotics Competition and are not allowed. However, Triple Play is a highly interactive contact game. Some tipping, entanglement, and damage may occur as a part of normal game play. If the tipping, entanglement, or damage occurs where it is not a part of normal game play, at the referee’s discretion, the offending team/ROBOT may be disqualified from that match. Repeated offenses could result in a team/ROBOT being disqualified from the remainder of the Regional or Championship competition. Examples of normal game play interaction include:

• Pushing low on another ROBOT.
• Blocking or pushing on a TETRA that is in possession of an opposing ROBOT.
• Establishing ROBOT position to block access to a GOAL by an opposing ROBOT.
• Using an arm or gripper to prevent an opposing ROBOT from placing a TETRA on a GOAL.

Examples of inappropriate robot interaction include:

• Pushing high on a robot and tipping it over.
• Using an arm or gripper to repeatedly strike an opposing ROBOT that is not in the process of placing a TETRA on a GOAL.
• Placing any part of your ROBOT under an opposing ROBOT, and then lifting to flip it over.
• Using an arm and gripper to pull a ROBOT by grabbing electrical cables, hoses, etc. or disabling a ROBOT by tearing out wires or hoses.
• Grasping or attaching to a TETRA that is in the possession of an opposing ROBOT, and using it to pull over the opposing ROBOT.
• Ramming another ROBOT at high speed.

(emphasis mine)

By the letter of the law, I don't see anything wrong with the robot design itself. However, if in competition due to the wedge shape, the robot ends up tipping other robots by driving into them, I would be inclined to throw some flags. If it's clear the sole intention of the wedge was to tip other robots, I'd call it illegal under the "placing any part of your robot under an opposing robot, and then lifting to flip it over" clause of <G25>.

[Brandon Holley]

Our robot has wedge shaped sides as a solely defensive purpose. Our aim is NOT to go out and flip other robots around, and we dont plan on doing that. They are not bumpers, they are part of the base itself. I appreciate everyones concern, but believe me, we have thought this through, and know this is going to be a very effective design feature.

[Pielord]

Originally Posted by Bob92

[IMG]http://www.chiefdelphi.com/pics/bin/110894473256.jpg[/IMG]


I thought you were not allowed to have angled bumpers. Or am I mistaken? Can someone please clarify.

i think it is legal but im not sure

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Pielord

i think it is legal but im not sure

Well then it's a good thing the people above you took the time to get the rulebook and answer then, huh? (May I refer you to Andy Baker's "Please stop posting needless stuff" post)

And Marc, while wedges can be used maliciously, the majority of the time they aren't.

If team 11 is sitting still trying to cap a goal and team xxx comes blasting down the field and hits them at 10 fps and flips themselves--well now that's their own stupid fault isn't it?

There are many instances over the last few years where wedges have been employed within the rules to great success.

[Conor Ryan]

illegal


i'd say that is illegal for two reasons: one that bumpers must be 2"-8" off the ground. as well as the materials are hard and not allowed. read whats in bold.

<R30> In order to help reduce the impact forces that the robot will experience during collisions with other robots, teams may add external “bumpers” to the robot. If used, bumpers must satisfy the following constraints:
• Bumpers may extend outside the normal robot starting dimensions (in the horizontal plane) up to 4.” per side
• Bumpers must be located in a region from 2” to 8” above the playing field surface.
• Bumpers must not cause the weight of the robot to exceed the weight limit.
• Bumpers must be removable in order to allow the robot starting size to be easily measured during robot inspection.
• Bumpers must be designed to remain attached to the robot for the duration of the match.
• Bumpers and any bumper mounts that extend beyond the robot starting size may not contain “hard” materials such as metal, wood, or hard plastics. The definition of “hard” is one of common sense (i.e., if you can punch it and not hurt your bare hand, it is ok).