hi, I’m from Brazil and I’m doubt this new bumper rule. Can someone explain this please?
It is not technically the rule (yet) we need the game manual for sure.
This is just getting at increasing bunper to bumper conact area between two bots so that there is physically more material to absorb energy.
2 Likes
Basically, it means that in the areas of the robot where you have a bumper, that bumper MUST fill the area from 2.5 inches off the floor to 5.5 inches off the floor.
It’s not really a particularly big change – last year, bumpers had to be at least 5 inches tall, and their maximum height was 7.5 inches off the floor. The only way you WOULDN’T fill the 2.5 inches to 5.5 inches is if your bumpers were less than 0.5 inches off the floor.
1 Like
Valeu!!
1 Like
Thank you!
1 Like
The actual requirement was 5±1/2. So a minimally built bumper with 0 ground clearance would not meet the new overlap requirements. Sort of an edge case I know. See definition on momentary. 
1 Like
Curious how they would define “fill” in this scenario. Will this mean the bumper has to be at its maximum thickness for that entire 3" tall zone? Or simply occupy that entire zone in some amount? With 2.5" diameter pool noodles, the former is technically not achievable.
4 Likes
I want a lot of examples of meets/fails in the game manual… Even if they need to supply a supplemental document. I really hope Q&A is not the fallback.
The majority of teams will likely not start on bumpers until the tail of build. A collection of examples of what is good and not good will really help here.
6 Likes
The latter (two stacked pool noodles) will be considered filled. Make sure your “foam solution” occupies the region from 2.5"-5.5" so that when 2 robots interact the foam from the both robot’s bumpers interact in this zone. The intent is not that the 2.5"-5.5" “foam zone” be completely void less. The hope is bumper inspection will get a lot easier and faster. Robot Inspectors should not be nitpicking insignificant details like illustrated in your CAD drawing. If they do, PLEASE, bring your LRI in on the discussion (you have every right to do so at any time) and, if needed, have the LRI consult Al or myself. We are trying to make bumpers easier not harder.
11 Likes
Some RI’s and LRI’s are that way. From personal experience. Most are not. Q&A can be particularly bad. They in the tend to interpret the rules by the letter.
Well you’ve told the Chief Lead Robot Inspector. He can include that into the LRI training.
It will certainly be clearly reiterated during LRI training. I understand that some RIs, particularly ones that are new and less experienced or are not from FRC backgrounds, may be over zealous in their strict interpretations of some robot rules. That is why the LRI is there to clarify and why we encourage teams to bring their LRI in whenever needed as I indicated above.
I’m always curious why this is the case. I’m certainly not disagreeing with you that this is usually the case. I just never understand why bumpers are perpetually the afterthought rather than included in the design from the beginning. Why isn’t bumper interaction with game pieces and field elements considered from early on in the design process instead of seemingly being a last minute afterthought?
1 Like
"Bumpers aren’t as cool as robots.
“Bumpers are a trivial task that will take an hour”
“Freshman job”
“We will prototype with last year’s bumpers.”
Probably a few more reasons.
Maybe that will be different this year since there are big changes and bumper construction is not just carry over from previous years.
1 Like
I was wondering the same thing.
The removal of the separate bumper weight limit seems to create an opportunity for the bumpers to be more integral to the structure.
With a little bit of cleverness in fastening, you could imagine a very stiff bumper entirely replacing the perimeter frame beams that most teams use, resulting in a more weight-efficient all-up structure.
That is why he gets paid the big bucks. I have no animosity to him or inspector’s in general. I also inspect so I have been on both sides.
Last season our bumpers were a structural element. We played F2 and F3 of our off season event with the front perimeter sheared and the front of the robot held on by the bumper.
ooo, I’d like to learn more about your design for that, if you’d be interested in sharing.
I don’t read it as being purposeful design, rather “is it currently dragging and will we get yellow/red carded/estopped on the field? No? Kk - send it, we have 23sec to match start” for finals 2 and 3
1 Like
ohhhhhhhhhhh, yes of course.