[marwahaha]

based on my understanding of the game manual and others' posts, the minibot must trigger a plate system, requiring 2-4 newtons for the lower plate to raise at least 1/4". The upper plate is probably for stability and compression purposes (2.2.5, 4th paragraph).

As was stated earlier (definition of Triggered, ch.1):
"When as target is triggered, the minibot race on that tower is complete."

Once the sensor is tripped, it is irrelevant what the minibot does, as long as it doesn't break tele-op rules and can get down so referees don't have to and possibly penalize you for it <G59>: One thought is to have a limit switch on the top of your minibot, triggering a downward climb of the minibot.

be careful of <G42> which says "Robots, minibots, or hostbots may not intentionally detach parts or leave mechanisms on the field (with the exception of appropriate deployment of the minibot)." No parachute jump off.

As for the energy equivalent. Energy can only be stored as follows <R01>:

Electrical Energy
Compressed Air (120PSI max)
Change in altitude of robot center of gravity
storage achieved by deformation of robot parts. (i.e. spring compression)

End Game rule <G19> says:
" After deployment, minibots must remain completely autonomous."

Again, as <G42> states, you can only detach pieces as per appropriate Deployment of a minibot, which is defined as:
"Act of positioning a minibot on a tower. deployment starts when the minibot breaks the vertical projection of the tower base circumference."

FIRST
has made clear when deployment starts, but not when deployment ends. IF deployment has not ended until the hostbot and minibot have separated, then using springs or pneumatics to launch the minibot (with stored energy) is perfectly legal (as long as they're safe). The energy transferred to the minibot will be from storage of the hostbot springs, and will be autonomous ONLY AFTER separation. From an energy standpoint, launching a minibot is legally autonomous. In essence, the question to be addressed is specifically when deployment ends. If climbing the tower seems to include "jumping bean bots" that don't actually touch the tower, then a bot that is launched up the tower is also "climbing."

I like the idea of launching the minibot from the hostbot: However, we just completed our projectile launchers from physics class. The most powerful device was an air cannon using pneumatics and a cylindrical shooter, it shot a racquetball over 70 horizontal feet. Just some ideas..