My team is making a demo bot, but we want it to be competition legal. I’m wondering if our frame needs to be longer than it currently is to be in alignment with bumper rules. Currently our frame (from a top view) is roughly this:
(I don’t currently have access to the CAD files, so you will have to do with a bad graphic)
Do the two parts that are 3.5 in have to be extended to 6 in in order to fit the bumpers? I already reviewed the 2017 game manual, but I could not figure this out.
Thanks,
Ben
Doesn’t look like you attached a picture
There’s no picture attached, but given your question I will refer you to rule R31
BUMPERS must be supported by the structure/frame of the ROBOT (see Figure 8-7). To be
considered supported, a minimum of ½ in. (~12.7 mm) at each end of each BUMPER wood
segment must be backed by the FRAME PERMIETER. “Ends” exclude hard BUMPER parts
which extend past the FRAME PERIMETER permitted by R29, part B. Additionally, any gap
between the backing material and the frame:
A. must not be greater than ¼ in. (~6 mm) deep, or
B. not more than 8 in. (~20 cm) wide
The important part is in bold. Any bumper segment must be supported on both ends by a rigid structure. If you’re trying to attach a 6" bumper piece to a 3.5" support, that won’t fly.
Sorry about the image, here it is:
http://i.imgur.com/ylrE8BR.png
Yes you will need to extend them to 6in from them to be competition legal.
Alright, Thanks!
Agree.
Keep in mind that these rules tend to change each year, so in 2018 you may need 8" or 4" or maybe there won’t be bumpers at all 
Note that you do not need to make the arms 6" wide, simply add something suitably rigid sticking in to the space by another 2.5". This should probably be angle/channel, or have an angled-out brace to hold the extension square with the chassis. If you’re using the AM14U3 (or U2), just having 5.5" pieces of the end plate would be sufficient from several examples I’ve seen pass inspection.