[PhilBot]

Originally Posted by pfreivald

So maybe it's just because I'm a theoretical physics guy, but a "solenoid" to me is an electromagnet -- and I have always presumed that they are illegal because of this?

Yeah, me too.

However, I remeber in 2006, at Nationals (so lots of inspections) there was a robot that had a ball slingshot, which used an electromagnet as the release mechanism.

The magnet was turned on, which grabbed the metal cup of the slingshot, it was pulled back to stretch the bungies, and then the field was turned off to release the ball.

Granted I never saw it on the field... but I saw it in the pits....

Anyone know the story there?

Electromagnet.... but not a solenoid?