Bumper question

FIRST General Forum
1

4.1.6 Bumper Rules
Robots are required to use Bumpers to protect all exterior vertices of the Frame Perimeter. For adequate protection, at least 8 in. of Bumper must be placed on each side of each exterior vertex(see Figure 4‑1, Figure 4‑2, and Figure 4‑3).

OK this is a very important rule as far as robot design is concerned. I hate waiting for answers from the GDC for things like this because it is so important.

While we wait for Q&A to open what are peoples opinion on the 8 in. of Bumper must be placed on each side of each exterior vertex thing?

Will that include the 2.5" beyond the corner or is it from the corner? this makes a 5" difference in possible bumper openings for ball pickup. Opinions?

2

In my interpretation, the “bumper” is the part that has a hard backing, therefore the 8" required is 8" along the frame perimeter, and does not include the protrusion by any fluffy parts at the corner.

3

Thanks David, I tend to agree with you.

The vertex is the corner (if I remember my geometry that I took many years ago) so each side of corner would mean 8" from the corner not boned it.

I think this is going to possibly screw up a lot of teams like the similar rule did in Lunacy.

4

I believe their were some diagrams in the manual. Unless you pose a different question. Would you mind maybe drawing a quick pic?

5

Look here for the pictures you’re thinking of

6

So we can split the 8 in up right? so 4 in on the right and 4 on the left. (this would be for one Side of the robot)

7

While I have you all here. I also have a bumper question. Attached is a picture of a bumper idea, after reading the rules it seems that this is alright? I want to be 100% sure. Does it seem okay to you?

Bumpers.jpg

Bumpers.jpg


Bumpers.jpg

8

Looks okay to me.

Since all your exterior vertices and the required 8 inch covering are protected, it looks legal to me.

9

Do you know how far it can go into the frame perimeter?

10

How far that little inlet can go into your frame? I can’t find anything in the bumper rules that specifies that…

11

Each set of Bumpers (including any fasteners and/or structures that attach them to the Robot) must weigh no more than 20 lbs

Was it not 15 lbs last year?

12

Thank you! Should I bother the GDC about it or should I just leave it? haha

13

Bumpers were last 15 lbs in 2008. They were 18 lbs in 2009, and 20lbs since.

14

No. See section 4.1.6:

Robots are required to use Bumpers to protect all exterior vertices of the Frame Perimeter. For adequate
protection, at least 8 in. of Bumper must be placed on **each side of each exterior vertex **

Emphasis mine. So, if you have a gap between bumper segments (along a straight portion of your FRAME PERIMETER), you’ll have (at minimum) 8 in of bumpers on each side.

15

You’re looking for [R33]; if the width of the gap >= 8", then it can only go 1/4" in; otherwise, there seems to be no apparent limit other than your bot itself.

16

Ah, but if you don’t have a bumper in that section, then there is no limit at all! Well, unless you happen to like having two half-robots.

17

What defines the bumper zone this year?? In the past, I remember it being from 1 to 7 inches above the ground (2010 excluded. Bumpers were higher that year), but I cannot seem to find where the “bumper zone” is defined in the manual.

Both <R01> and <R29> reference a “bumper zone” for those who are wondering. Please tell me that bumpers are going to be like the height limit last year, waiting for Q&A to open to ask a question that will greatly impact designs…

18

2 to 10 in above the floor.

19

Eagle’s interpretation is correct. However, in the past this spec was 6" (six) inches.

20

[R01] actually defines the Bumper Zone as 2"-10" above the ground, just to reiterate what previous posters have pointed out :stuck_out_tongue: