Why should robots keep their bumpers low?

Keeping robots’ bumpers low is crucial to adhere to regulation specifications set by the competition rules. The rules define specific dimensions for the robot, including bumper height, to ensure safety and fairness among all teams. A low bumper design helps to maintain a standard that prevents interference and ensures that robots do not have an unfair advantage in gameplay.

Regulatory compliance also ensures that robots can engage effectively during matches, as the allowed dimensions are designed to facilitate optimal interaction with game pieces and field elements. This adherence to specifications helps maintain the integrity of the competition and assists referees in enforcing the rules consistently across all teams.

The other options may have some practical implications—such as maneuverability and potentially impacting speed—but they do not address the primary focus of complying with the formal regulations that govern the competition design. Therefore, understanding and following rule specifications is the key reason for maintaining low bumpers on robots.