Bumper coverage of external corners

[FRC2449]

This is in response to the answer to the post titled ”Bumper Length” on Sunday at 8:32am and the team update #2.

According to the second part of the reply by GDC, <R08-I> is interpreted as BOTH sides of all exterior corners must be protected. Originally we interpreted this as just using a vertical noodle at the end of a segment to cover the corner, but the posts and rule update seem to be implying that 6” of bumper need to be used on both sides of all corners. Is this true, or is a vertical noodle ok?
• So what constitutes a corner? Is a rounded turn with a 2” radius considered a corner? 10” radius?
• As shown in figure 8-2 of rule <R08>, a ~120 degree corner is covered with a single segment, so can one flat side of that segment be < 6”. Specifically, 2” as long as the total segment is longer than 6”? Or is a segment defined as a straight piece? Based on the other questions that have been posted on this, the replys seem to contradict the bottom left bumper of figure 8-2 of the original rule.
• Based on the post that BOTH sides of every corner must be protected, and the implying that 6” of bumper must be on each side of these corners, this has a more profound effect on a short width robot than a wide width, so why was the wide width called out? I assume it is because of the 2/3rds rule and not because we need 6” of bumpers on the side of every corner.
• Finally, if the intent of the rule is so that we cannot eat a trailer with a wide mouth, what if we have a 6” center bumper in the middle of our mouth, as shown in the following link, does that apply? Obvious it violates the both sides of all corners, but I am hoping that 6” of bumper will not be required on both sides of every corner.

http://groups-beta.google.com/group/...49_Bumpers.gif

Thanks for your help!

[GDC]

The interpretation that "both sides of an exterior corner must be protected with segments of bumpers, and the bumper segments must be a minimum of six inches" is correct. The requirement for both sides of the corner to be protected is independent of the angle of the corner.

A "corner" has not been explicitly defined. A corner will be accepted as a "corner" when in the judgement of a reasonable astute person it is perceived as a corner.

The illustrations and figures used in The Rules and Team Updates are typically examples and used for illustrative and clarification purposes. They are not, unless otherwise noted, exclusive or all-encompassing design solutions. Rule <R08> and the associated illustrations do not make any direct statements regarding a preference for wide-side- or narrow-side-first orientations for the ROBOT. Please try to not over-analyze the illustrations beyond their intended purpose.