Base plate is solid and made of HDPE not thinner than ½ inch. (Clearance holes for component mounts, component clearance, fasteners, wheels, and wires are allowed.)
The outside of the base plate is completely ringed with a bumper that can be directly contacted from any horizontal direction by another Player.
No fixed/permanent part of a Player protrudes beyond the base plate's bumper.
Bumper is made of hollow bulb P-strip of extruded Ethylene Propylene Rubber (EPDM) acquired from Wefco Rubber Manufacturing Company, Inc. (Part #4134 — see Wefco Rubber)
The stem of the bumper is bolted in a rigid fashion to the top or bottom of the base plate such that the hollow bulb is in direct contact with the ½-inch thick outside surface of the base plate.
Bolts are placed at least every 3.25 inches along the perimeter of the base plate and are not threaded directly into the base plate (thru holes and nuts must be used).
Both the centerline of the base plate and the bumper are located from 2-13/16" to 3-3/16" (3" ± 0.2") above the playing surface when the unit is at rest. (Note: referees may also check this measurement at any point during play.)
All Players (except the Center and Kicker) fit within a 16 inch square, 24 inch tall box at the beginning of any play, including the bumpers.
The Kicker fits within a 16 inch by 24 inch rectangle and is no more than 24 inches tall.
The Center fits within a 16 inch by 16 inch square and is no more than 30 inches tall if attempting to snap from the ground. (The Center may reach beyond this footprint before a play in order to snap the ball.)
Multi-color, high-intensity LED light strips fully wrap the sides of the robot immediately above the baseplate and are clearly visible from all angles and sides. (Robots that fail the Light Inspection will not be allowed to compete.)
If using LEDs for uniform color: the CRFC Node is used to set Ineligible Players to the pulsing setting and Eligible Players to the solid setting.
If not using LEDs for uniform color: LEDs for Ineligible Players are left dark and Eligible Players are set to white.