Any other teams considering turning their robots sideways? We’re considering this because we think it might be harder for teams to score on our trailer because the extension of the robot sideways would make it harder to maneuver to our trailer (if your planning a close-up bot that is) plus we also need the side facing front for our scoring method.
We are planning on it, because it offers room for a wider ball picker-upper, and also because it might be much easier to steer.
I haven’t checked yet, but I’ve heard there’s a rule that the min bumper length must be 6"
If that is the case, than wide is pretty much the only way to go for floor loading.
Part A of rule <R08> requires that bumper sections be at lest six inches long. Part I requires that “BUMPERS must protect all exterior corners of the BUMPER PERIMETER.” but the associated drawing is ambiguous as to whether this means a bumper ending at each corner, or a bumper on each side at the corner.
I don’t think you can make your robot wide. You have to fit inside the beginning box and it will not fit a robot 38" across.
Also see Team Update #2
http://usfirst.org/community/frc/content.aspx?id=450
edit: and Section 6:
6.2.3 LAUNCH PADS
Three 48-inch by 96-inch LAUNCH PADS are marked on the CRATER floor for each ALLIANCE. The LAUNCH PADS indicate the areas in which the ROBOTS and TRAILERS must be positioned before the start of the match. The LAUNCH PADS locations are shown in the drawing below (note that the LAUNCH PAD locations are emphasized in this drawing for the purposes of illustration - the actual location markings will be less intrusive and will not detract from the visual appearance of the CRATER). For precise dimensions and locations of the LAUNCH PADS, please refer to the official “FE-00030 - 2009 Arena Layout and Marking” drawing.
The launch pads are 48 by 96, so you definately could fit in.
We’e had our bot wide for the last 3 years. We’ll probably do it this year as well (for many reasons).
This orientation question seems fairly simple. Make your robot wide if you plan on doing any kind of serious ball gathering. Unless there are other mechanisms that reqire a long orientation, I think wide is the way to go for a maximum frontal opening and ball gathering space. Remember the diameter of the balls is 9". Based on the 6" bumper rule, the maximum opening would be 16" for a long robot and 26" for a wide robot.
However, bumpers have to extend into the corners and can be up to 3 1/2" thick. This sets up the possibility that part of the 6" for the front bumpers will overlap the side bumper and each front bumper will actually cover only 2 1/2" of the front side leaving a possible 33" opening for a wide orientation and 23" opening for long orientation.
Based on Team Update #2 and the drawing with the trailer and the robot, I think this is not FIRST’s intention and that the six inches must be part of the actual robot surface. I plan to ask on Q&A.
Ooops, it looks like some one got to it before me. The bumper must be touching the robot to be considered part of the 6".
Having been out of it for awhile, I just don’t understand this bumper rule fetish. What is wrong with dents and gashes and the occasional 'bot that can’t take a hit? Is Pool Noodle, Inc. a major sponsor?