[Mr V]

I can't help you if your switch will or will not trigger the sensor before turning the machine off w/o seeing your design. Much of the problems reported with minibots not triggering are with extremely fast and light minibots that do not keep the trigger held long enough for the system to register it.

I can tell you how to make it fall back down the pole slowly. Use a "3-way" "common household sw" or a 3 terminal "limit sw" to short the motor terminals together making the motor into a electric brake.

To wire either you connect the COM, common, or odd colored terminal to the terminal on the motor you want to be (+). One of the other terminals goes to B(+) and the remaining other terminal goes to B(-) and the motor terminals you want to be (-) when in the "on" position.

In one position the sw will connect B(+) to motor (+) and in the other it will connect motor (+) to motor (-) making it act as an electric brake.

If you are using 2 switches then place the "on" sw between B(+) and the off/brake sw.