[NOV8R]

A few answers: The shafts are 2 inch long by 3/8 inch aluminum rod drilled with a 3/32 drill. They are then pressed on with an arbor press. The friction material is 3/8 inch OD Latex stretched on after running hot water over it for a few seconds. The white object just below the motors is a pole guide made from a 1 1/2 pvc pipe fitting. In addittion two magnets help hold the minibot to the pole. The battery is held in position between two pieces of 1/2 aluminum tubing. Inside this tubing are guide pins attached to the deployment tray. There are two on/off lamp switches and one limit switch that control the motors. The first switch turns on the motors when the bot contacts the pole. When the second switch contacts the top of the tower it shifts the motor to half power so the bot will slowly decend the pole. A limit switch on the bot's base then turns off power when it comes down the pole and makes contact with the base. Weight management of the minibot is essential. Let the bot get to heavy and you'll smoke the motors.