Re: Springs on a minibot?
 

Who says the mini-bot needs electronics?

What if your mini-bot was a passive cylinder that wraps around the pole and is then launched from a HOST-mounted "crossbow" (or other stored-energy launcher). I get the feeling this isn't in the spirit of the mini-bot, but I don't see anything in the rules specifically forbidding it.

Re: Springs on a minibot?
 

Size =/= power. A small and light magnet can easily be very powerful. However, a magnet powerful enough to latch a 15 lb bot onto a pole would probably disrupt the sensors on the pole and also the electronics on the minibot as well.

Re: Springs on a minibot?
 

Interesting. However, I see a few problems. If the magnet is powerful enough to attach a minibot onto the pole, won't the electronics be disrupted on the hostbot and the sensors on the pole?

Re: Springs on a minibot?
 

<G46> MINIBOTS may only be used to climb the TOWER.

I don't know if launching would be allowed.

Re: Springs on a minibot?
 

The magnets will not affect the electronics or sensors in any way unless you are using magnetic reed switches or hall effect sensors.

I've build a few VEX bots that use magnets to climb steel walls and I-Beams and never had a problem with the sensors, electronics, or radios.

Re: Springs on a minibot?
 

what if you were to us some sort of rounded magnet attached to a drive motor with another two round magnets, all on seperate axles, so that they are in a triangle shape, would the magnet on the drive motor be able to push that up? or would u need too powerful a motor to be able to go up the pole fast enough?

Re: Springs on a minibot?
 

Depends on how we interpret "climb".

Here's another thread on the same topic: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...threadid=88428

On the magnet note, that is a good point about affecting the surrounding electronics XD... forgot about that ~.~

Re: Springs on a minibot?
 

Well, FTC and FRC parts are different, right? Just because the electronics in FTC aren't affected won't mean the electronics from FRC will also hold up.

Re: Springs on a minibot?
 

That limits what the MINIBOT can do - it's only function is to climb the tower. It doesn't say anything about how that climbing is accomplished.

Re: Springs on a minibot?
 

Folks - Unlees you want to name specific piece of eqmt that is sensitive to magnetic fields, don't worry about their effect on 99.9% of "electronics". There won't be any effect.

Re: Springs on a minibot?
 

Really? Where in the rules does it say this?

Re: Springs on a minibot?
 

There has also been discussion about launching MINIBOTS here:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...threadid=88428

Re: Springs on a minibot?
 

A note to consider if using springs:
"Teams must be very careful when incorporating springs or other items to store energy on their ROBOT by means of part of material deformation. A ROBOT may be rejected at inspection if, in the judgment of the inspector, such items are unsafe." <R01> under 4.3.1

Re: Springs on a minibot?
 

Do you guys think that using springs for the purpose of clamping the minibot onto the pole would be legal?

Re: Springs on a minibot?
 

Are springs on the list of approved parts for the MINIBOT?