[Matt D]

An electormagnet would not stay "on" or attached once the power was shut off. Your robot must be able to stay even when the power is shut off or you do not get the points for it.

On the other hand, you could use an electromagnet coupled with a passive latch to keep you held on the bar once power was shut off.

I looked in the manual and because electormagnets are not included in the KOP, they would fall under the Custom Circuits requirements (meaning they would not be allowed because of rule R52).

<R52> Custom Circuits may not:
• Directly affect any output devices on the robot, such as by providing power directly to a motor,
supplying a PWM signal to a speed controller or supplying a control signal to a relay module.

Please ask this question on the FIRST Q&A site and report back.

Note:there is nothing on the Q&A site so far that has the word magnet in it.

If anyone finds something to the contrary, please post it.