I mostly read the forums and rarely write, but I’ve been thinking about this for the last couple of days, so here goes.
Is your robot going to run bumpers?
This seems like an important question because there will be a lot of variations of ramps and lifts, and since the bumpers increase the width of the robot and also reduces the ground clearance, the ability for the robots to get on these ramps and lift may be limited.
Any thoughts?
Yes, we’re using bumpers. Biggest reason is the free 15 lbs of extra weight. Our robot is a ramper which we have designed wide enough to accomodate robots with bumpers. With all the ramps deployed we’re almost 10ft wide, We have enough parking space 12 inches above the carpet for two bots with or without bumpers. Btw our ramps aren’t just for parking robots on. 
Our team will use bumpers for the protection, part of our robot last year got trashed b*c we got rammed hard and we couldnt put a bumper there…also you might think about making this into a poll
We built a pretty durable base but we are still running bumpers for looks, for weight, and for durability.
Bumpers add the 15lbs which is why many teams put them on. Last year we didnt put them on because our robot was strongly built and didnt need protection. We talked about putting them on but we havnt reached a decision.
We will be using bumpers. I watched too many robots last year climb onto the wheels of robots that looked similar to what we are building this year and effectively disable them. I also don’t like the idea of having our cantalevered wheels so exposed. We are adding bumpers to prevent that problem. It also adds 15 pounds, and who can say no to that!
This seems like an important question because there will be a lot of variations of ramps and lifts, and since the bumpers increase the width of the robot and also reduces the ground clearance, the ability for the robots to get on these ramps and lift may be limited.
To have our bumpers mounted legally, we need to have them 1/2 of an inch above the bottom of our frame. We are using 6 inch wheels with a 1x2 tube stock frame. They shouldn’t limit what we can climb, unless the ramp is steep enough that we get our bumpers stuck on it before our wheels get on the ramp and start climbing.
No bumpers here.
I think our team is going without bumpers. i guess it all depends on the robot design and the way you use your robot.(defensive i.e. ram/block)
How many sections of ramp will you have and what angle of ramp? Which position to do you have to be to be entirely in the home zone (Ie, which way do robots come up to your ramps? How could you use ramps in the rest of the match without violating the wedge rule?
My guess is that they will not deploy the ramps until the end game. At that point, they will be in the home zone and deploy the ramps, then wait for their partners to come up them.
I was writing in regard to the end of the post about using the ramps for more then parking robots on. I also had a question about the end Tape (the 2 inches) is that at the end of the 8 feet box or inside the 8 feet box.
You are not allowed to touch outside the home zone (even by an inch) when deploying larger then 72 by 72 correct? (this is for the bottom robot with the ramp, its not clearly defined in the rules, but the tape is considered in the zone.
Not allowed to be outside the HZ, but I’m not sure whether that includes the tape or not.
And using the ramps for more than parking robots on–I’m not sure what that team is up to (other than blocking off a few tubes, maybe?), but I’d suggest that they make dead sure it’s legal. If there’s any doubt, they should ask Q&A if someone hasn’t already.
I think bumpers are really useful.
if your in offensive bot, it gives you protection from bots paying defense
if your defensive it gives you protection and added weight.
1568 will most likely be using bumpers this year.
Yep. We are indeed using bumpers. Wider base, more weight down low, and a wonderful place to stick some team numbers.
And for the one who asked on which side of the 8ft mark is the tape. The tape is on the inside of that. I remember measuring to the side close to the player’s station, reading 7’10" and thinking “that’s an odd number”.