Is it legal to have a pneumatic piston push you up and over, say, the rock wall? I ask this because I see that you have to have your bumpers be between 4"-12" range and I was wondering if by lifting yourself up, would you violate that rule?
That’s an… interesting question. Q&A 1 R22 specifies that the bumper zone rules are intended for when the robot is on a flat floor. So if you put your robot on a flat floor, articulate the piston, and your bumpers stay within the bumper zone then it’s a legal design.
To be legal, you must have your bumpers within the 4" - 12" height while the piston is actuated. We almost had a problem in 2012 with our landing gear, very close to the 4" and 12" limit.
As long as if you picked up your robot and put it on flat ground and your bumper are in the bumper zone, you are legal. So pushing on flat ground your bumpers have to be at / below 12". Pushing on say the rock wall might legally raise your bumpers higher.
Exactly, the bumpers are measured while at their maximum intended height (intended meaning the robot intentionally positions itself i.e. actuated piston) on a flat surface. Being on the ramp while having the piston extended is completely legal.