Re: 2011 Minibot electronics
 

It has also been pointed out (offline) that a tether would not fit in the 12" cube. Food for thought.

Re: 2011 Minibot electronics
 

For those of you interested in using NXT equipment:

FIRST now allows:
BB. NXT compatible sensors and related connectors/cables.
(Team Update 1)

Re: 2011 Minibot electronics
 

Your minibot has to be an electromechanical devises as stated in the logomotion summary, and your could possibly use a tether as long as you can assure that it will never touch the pole. The tether would be considered part of the hostbot by my understanding and would violate the rule of the host bot touching above the deployment line.

Re: 2011 Minibot electronics
 

A tether between the HOSTBOT and the MINIBOT will mean that you won't be deploying the minibot, according to the clarified definition of DEPLOYMENT. The act of deployment ends the moment the HOSTBOT and MINIBOT are no longer in contact, and only then can the MINIBOT start upward.

Re: 2011 Minibot electronics
 

Team update #1 yesterday saying it MUST be electrically powered climbing ability

Re: 2011 Minibot electronics
 

What about deploying a minibot that has a base module (containing a battery and controller) that would be tethered to the actual climbing bit? I think this would be legal because a minibot would still be deployed, but only half of the minibot would climb...right? The base module would rest on the pole's circular platform while the upper part climbed.

Re: 2011 Minibot electronics
 

The pole is more than 12" high ... just sayin'

::rtm:: (all of it)

Re: 2011 Minibot electronics
 

An earlier post on this page listed required materials. non metallic rope or cord is allowed, so that may be possible.

Re: 2011 Minibot electronics
 

They've clarified that no "stored energy" other than what would be in a battery can be used. So you MUST use the electrical energy to move your minibot. Basically, you have to have the battery.

Re: 2011 Minibot electronics
 

well if the mini bots can't have the Samantha then how would we enable the automatous on it?

Re: 2011 Minibot electronics
 

The minibot is always in autonomous mode waiting for a sensor to tell it to start climbing. Please refer to the other thread here.

http://chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88644

Re: 2011 Minibot electronics
 

Only if the minibot never exceeds 12" x 12" x 12". That doesn't allow for much in the way of rope dangling down.

We had thought of a small mechanical lever that, when the minibot hits the top, releases a cord we can pull after the match to retrieve the minibot, but this would have the minibot larger than 12", and so was ruled out. We decided to stick with the pole-mounted chainsaw. :ahh:

Re: 2011 Minibot electronics
 

Deployment is initiated by the drivers. The only interaction with field control comes when all four posts have been triggered or the match clock runs out.

2011 Minibot electronics - 4 pole switch
 

GDC
Re: Minibot Light switch

For the purposes of FRC 2011, a standard light switch is considered any standard switch which is normally installed in a wall box to control lights in a home.

We purchased a 4 pole (wall box) light switch from Home Depot and it works very nicely to reverse the DC polarity. On our prototype, we used a standard switch to turn the robot on and the 4 pole switch to bring the minibot back down the pole