Bumper Height

[TeenDev]

Hey everyone,

How high do the bumpers have to be from the ground? We looked thrugh the rule book, asked our rulesmaster, but we couldn't find the answer.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

From 8.2 Definitions in Section 8

BUMPER ZONE – the volume contained between two virtual horizontal planes, one inch above the floor and seven inches above the floor.

The bumpers must be mounted to satisify this definition.

[waterfreak#1]

in our rule book we founf it said that it had to be 1 3/16 inches off the ground

[EricH]

Originally Posted by waterfreak#1

in our rule book we founf it said that it had to be 1 3/16 inches off the ground

Nope, that's the trailer hitch, at (2 3/16)" from the ground to the horizontal centerline. Al is correct.

[The phenom]

gets hammered?

[Rick Wagner]

Originally Posted by EricH

Nope, that's the trailer hitch, at 2 3/16" from the ground to the horizontal centerline. Al is correct.

That should be two and thirteen sixteenths inches from the floor (2 13/16).

[MetalGear_Solid]

yes...the nail that sticks out does indeed get hammered....
lol
thanks for postin this up...
it took me an hour to find it and i learned something.... hahaha
i have to make the bumper case for our metal gear titan ...

so thanks a bunch..

[ISGOI Howie]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

From 8.2 Definitions in Section 8

BUMPER ZONE – the volume contained between two virtual horizontal planes, one inch above the floor and seven inches above the floor.

The bumpers must be mounted to satisify this definition.

sooooo...... the bumpers have to be at least 1" above the ground and 7" at max?

[ebarker]

Originally Posted by ISGOI Howie

sooooo...... the bumpers have to be at least 1" above the ground and 7" at max?

The bumper zone starts at 1" elevation and stops at 7" elevations.

7" minus 1" = 6"

so center the nominal 5" tall bumper between the 1 and 7 " mark


Read under Robot Rules - Definitions - Bumper Zone

Then read <R08>

[Mike Betts]

Originally Posted by ebarker

The bumper zone starts at 1" elevation and stops at 7" elevations.

7" minus 1" = 6"

so center the nominal 5" tall bumper between the 1 and 7 " mark


Read under Robot Rules - Definitions - Bumper Zone

Then read <R08>

Ed,

I do not believe that your interpretation is correct. A 6" latitude of placement for a 5" bumper means that the bumpers of two colliding robots could miss each other. This would negate the purpose of the bumper.

If your team's robot design requires a 6" latitude, you should post to the FIRST forum for an official ruling.

JMHO

Mike

[GaryVoshol]

Once again we have a misunderstanding of the words used in the Manual. First we have the definition:

Originally Posted by Manual 8.2

BUMPERS – Bumper assemblies designed to attach to the exterior of the ROBOT within the BUMPER ZONE, and constructed as specified in Rule <R08>. BUMPERS are excluded from the weight and volume calculations specified in Rule <R11>.

And then this:

Originally Posted by <R08>

P. BUMPERS must be mounted to the ROBOT within the BUMPER ZONE, and must remain there. The BUMPERS must not be articulated or designed to move outside of the BUMPER ZONE.

(emphasis mine in all cases)

While the first bolded parts could be read as requiring only the mounting point to be inside the bumper zone, the underlined bold parts specifically say the bumpers themselves must always remain inside the bumper zone. So with a 5" wide bumper, you've got an inch of slop to make sure it stays between 1 and 7 inches from the floor.

[Mike Betts]

Originally Posted by ISGOI Howie

sooooo...... the bumpers have to be at least 1" above the ground and 7" at max?

In my humble opinion, you are correct.

[bighead1358]

this whole thread has been both very helpful and confusing im going with higher than one inch and lower than seven? i hope

[EricH]

Originally Posted by bighead1358

this whole thread has been both very helpful and confusing im going with higher than one inch and lower than seven? i hope

The definition of BUMPER ZONE: "the volume contained between two virtual horizontal planes, one inch above the floor and seven inches above the floor."

<R08-P>: "BUMPERS must be mounted to the ROBOT within the BUMPER ZONE, and must remain there. The BUMPERS must not be articulated or designed to move outside of the BUMPER ZONE."

You are correct in your interpretation.

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by bighead1358

this whole thread has been both very helpful and confusing im going with higher than one inch and lower than seven? i hope

Yes. But keep in mind, a BUMPER must be made up from 2 pool noodles stacked on top of each other in which each pool noodle is about ~2.5" tall themselves.

This is where the talk about the 5" tall bumper comes into play.
(~2.5" pool nodle + ~2.5" pool noodle = ~5" tall bumper.)

In my crude picture, let the O's represent a pool noodle cross-section & the solid lines lines above & below the O's equal the 5" spacing between the top & bottom of the constructed BUMPER (height of 2 pool noodles). The dotted line represent your horizontal planes of the BUMPER ZONE limits.

------7" (max) from floor
_____
O
O___

------ <-1" (min) from floor
______ <- Floor


Hope that clears up any confusion, & doesn't add any more confusion to your understanding of this!