[B]Minibot[/B]
 

The rule says that the minibot can never expand itself beyond the 12" cube parameter. The motors are not strong enough to wind or extend the surgical tubing. We were thinkg of sending a metal plate up the pole but the 12" cube rule wont allow us to do that.

I would like to know if we are right about the 12" cube rule, and if we are right, i dont think we can do much with the minibot.

Re: [B]Minibot[/B]
 

Recent Team updates and official Q&A Responses say that the minibot may NEVER leave a 12"X12"X12" cube in dimensions.

Back to the ol' drawing board!

Re: [B]Minibot[/B]
 

FIRST doesn't want super crazy creative gamebreaking minibots, hence the <G19> update. Don't worry, there really isn't a lot of room for innovation here. The real game is not in the minibots, but in the way they are deployed.

Re: [B]Minibot[/B]
 

Exactly my sentiments. Fine tuning minibots and deployment is going to be the key to those bonuses.

Re: [B]Minibot[/B]
 

konk,
Remember that each minibot shown during kickoff was built with the same rules in mind.
Sirtasty, I prefer to think that the GDC is making us think harder not that "FIRST doesn't want super crazy creative gamebreaking minibots".

Re: [B]Minibot[/B]
 

I think it's more like FIRST knows how creative we can be and wants to prevent use from making potential dangerous projectile minibots.

Re: [B]Minibot[/B]
 

I think they want to make ensure the structural integrity of their top plates.

Re: [B]Minibot[/B]
 

I think the next Team Update may well limit the max force expended on the top plates! :)

Re: [B]Minibot[/B]
 

I would say FIRST is trying to force teams to actually be creative with the minibot through the restrictions. If we could just throw the bots up there, that would be the dominating strategy... and based on CD threads, there would be a lot of bots designed that way. By providing strict limits like FIRST has done, it forces you to be creative in order to win. To actually design something better than everyone else, instead of simply having the most tension and the quickest release on your slingshot.

Re: [B]Minibot[/B]
 

As in life, the more restrictive the rules, the more creative the 'best' solution will be. Even though the minibot cannot exceed a 1 foot cubical box, teams should be thinking outside that box :D

Re: [B]Minibot[/B]
 

We have a few designs that are really quite different. After being convinced in my own mind that nothing would be more efficient than a simple wheel, I have found that I might well be wrong on that score!

Re: [B]Minibot[/B]
 

Sorry this is off topic but I could not find a better place to post this. Our fuse in our FTC battery pack "broke". We attempted to charge and then the battery pack didnt work. Here is a picture of the fuse that we think is the problem.



Could anyone tell us where we can get a new one or exactly what the name of it is?

Re: [B]Minibot[/B]
 

The fuse is a 20 amp mini blade fuse. You can get them at most/all automotive stores. We have blown about 5-10 fuses (so far).

Re: [B]Minibot[/B]
 

The good news is that not only are those fuses really easy to find (via automotive parts stores as klmx30302 said), they're also really cheap.

Buy lots, and keep them handy!

Re: [B]Minibot[/B]
 

Thanks very much