[EricH]

Last year's rules and rulings do not apply this year. What may have been allowed last year under conditions may or may not be allowed this year whether under conditions or not.

If a pole to retrieve the Minibot is considered special equipment, even if it could have been standardized to every Minibot, then a device that alters power pathways (or alters control signal pathways, bypassing the cRIO) for a specific robot could easily be counted under the same category.

I would suggest asking Q&A if you could have a device to power the motor before the match, if it was a) off-field and b) on-field before and after the match times.