Did I read that right? No need for wood backing on bumpers now? Could be plastic or whatever ?
I smell a game with very little contact…
Are we going to see something like carbon fiber bumper backing? Or other composites?
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…this isn’t robot batteries they’re talking about, right? Has to be, like, li-ion batteries for people in the stands or auxiliary pit stuff?
I’d be interested in trying out some plastics.
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Ooh boy, I hope not.
Dont get me wrong I don’t want these destructive max speed hits, but something like 2019 where defense was viable would be fun
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Defense doesn’t have to involve max speed hits. Hopefully defense will be viable next year, really makes the games more interesting.
I don’t think these rules are really meant with any specific game in mind (unless FIRST wants to eliminate contact in every single future game), plus imo if a team sees the new rules and decides to use them to make weaker bumpers, whatever happens to them on field is entirely on them. (I’m assuming the new manuals will still have the specs for the old bumpers to guide less experienced teams)
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I am worried about the rookie teams who make weaker bumpers and are not aware they made weaker bumpers. This will make for feel bad moments.
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1 step closer to stanced bumpers
I remember Frank saying something along the lines of shooting for “Libertarianism with education” and I think this falls under that. My hope is that there’s a blue box that lays out what good backing materials might be, as well as some example setups that wouldn’t be expected to work well.
I agree that we don’t want to see rookie teams unknowingly make bad decisions here. I care a little bit less about teams going in with the information they need and making a bad decision.
This rule change refers only to the backing material and not the bumpers including the foam protection. I haven’t seen anything that will allow less than the old nominal 2.5" noodles, though we’re going to be allowed to make them significantly thicker (4.5" overall). Personally I’m leaning into using thinner plastic backing and a thick slice of the squishiest, longest lasting foam that is legal, and then a thin (1/2") slice of foam floor tile right beneath the fabric.
Do rules like this that we can see before the game specific manual come out tend to be written with the intention of “this is how it will be going forward…”, or are there cases in the past where rules have been changed at this level only to be revised next year for the next game?
Not to turn this into a prediction thread but with all the little pieces of evidence it seems like this will be a light contact game. Field Damage concerns, propulsion limits.
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This is pretty much new territory. There hasn’t been as much early issue of updates as is happening this year. In the past we might have seen, “Yes, you’ll still need pool noodles for your bumpers, so maybe you want to buy them while it’s still swimming weather.”
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Two words: Active Armor 
It’s hard to beat plywood for attaching fabric, but I wonder if any vendor might try to make aluminum bumper backer extrusion. It could have a groove for fabric like some patio furniture or window screens
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If we can get every team to agree to make their bumpers out of rare earth magnets with the same polarity facing out, we’ll have the perfect bumpers. (Problems may arise when someone gets the polarity wrong)
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If two RE robots charge at each other I’m pretty sure they’re going to exert force on each other regardless of whether or not they actually touch.
I think you mean you’re now the perfect defense bot😂
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Interesting. Not sure what to expect then!
So, the new ultimate defense strategy is to build bumpers out of some super light, corrugated (or otherwise somewhat rigid) material. Because there’s no thickness limit, you can now take up a solid 9’ x 9’ area on the field (as pictured below), or any size you want!
EDIT: 
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No reason you can’t be a giant bumper cube (up to overall height limit).
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