Quote:
Originally Posted by sanddrag
Keep in mind, there may exist a design in which the minibot is accelerated (reaching top speed) before it ever gets to the pole...
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<G19> MINIBOTS must remain completely autonomous and move up the POST solely through electric energy provided after the start of DEPLOYMENT by the permitted, unaltered battery and converted to mechanical energy by the permitted unaltered motors (and associated, appropriate circuitry). Violation: The TOWER on which the MINIBOT is DEPLOYED is disabled. If the MINIBOT is DEPLOYED on something other than a TOWER, then the ALLIANCE’S TOWER upon which the highest RACE SCORE was earned will be discounted.
<G19> means that HOSTBOTS are not allowed to launch the MINIBOT up the pole at the TARGET, or otherwise contribute to the vertical movement of the MINIBOT.
Energy for vertical movement may not be stored in the MINIBOT before DEPLOYMENT (except that which is contained within the battery and excluding incidental kinetic energy stored in the motors or wheels, but NOT, for example, in a flywheel).
(My highlighting, not FIRST's)
Since DEPLOYMENT starts when the miniboot crosses into the cylinder, it cannot have energy other than "incidental" kinetic energy in the wheels.
Incidental horizontal running starts prior to crossing into deployment-i.e., the length of the minibot will probably be overlooked as incidental.
Converting the horizontal energy produced by the minibot while over the cylinder is allowed: so the speed at the point of crossing the start line for a ramp can be higher than a minbot that uses an arm to place the minibot on the pole. I think a ramp bot can reach a higher top speed but the question is how much faster can other mechanisms get the bot to the start line as compared to the ramp bot. If the non-ramp bots do not start with a significant lead, the ramp bots can pass them (Assuming equal efficiency).
Also of note: the ramp needs to be well below the start line such that none of the minibot is in contact with it when any of the minibot crosses the start line.
My bet is that a ramp bot will record the fastest time. (We do not have a rampbot: at least not yet
)
Also of note: rampbots need to demonstrate that their hostbot does NOT provide horizontal momentum to the minibot: E.g., a host bot that suddenly decelerates as it is reaching the tower and is not completely motionless as it deploys the minibot COULD be imparting non incidental kinetic energy. Referees will need to watch out for that.