<G40>

[GaryVoshol]

<G40> ROBOTS or HOSTBOTS may not exceed PLAYING CONFIGURATION at any time.
Violation: PENALTY

From the definitions:

ROBOT – the composite electromechanical assembly designed and built by a FRC team to perform specific tasks when competing in the 2011 competition LogoMotion. The ROBOT must include all the basic systems required to be an active participant in the game – power, communications, control, mobility, and actuation. The ROBOT implementation must obviously follow a design approach intended to play the 2011 FRC game (e.g. a box of unassembled parts placed on the FIELD, or a ROBOT designed to play a different game, would not satisfy this definition). The ROBOT includes both the HOSTBOT and the MINIBOT (ROBOT = HOSTBOT + MINIBOT).

(emphasis mine)

Since the MINIBOT is a part of the ROBOT, does this mean that the HOSTBOT must remain close to the TOWER after DEPLOYING the MINIBOT? Else, <G40> would be violated.

[Dustin Shadbolt]

I would believe that we would have to stay close. Since they defined it like they did. You might wanna Q&A once that gets going. They did stay near the towers during the animation (might help might not).

[CalTran]

<G42> ROBOTS, MINIBOTS, or HOSTBOTS may not intentionally detach parts or leave MECHANISMS on the FIELD (with the exception of appropriate DEPLOYMENT of the MINIBOT)

<G47> From the start of the MATCH until it is DEPLOYED, the MINIBOT must remain on the HOSTBOT.

I believe, from the point the minibot is deployed, then it becomes a seperate entity of the robot. Thus, a robot may be able to move away from the tower once their minibot is deployed, and (at a stretch) may be able to score (via the scoring rack) again.

[DonRotolo]

Gary, I agree with your interpretation. They are specifically stating that a Robot may not exceed (60" cylinder) and Robot = Hostbot PLUS Minibot.

GDC Forum interpretation required

[GaryVoshol]

I found the answer to my own question. <R11-D> exempts MINIBOTS from both weight and size constraints of the whole ROBOT.

[AllenGregoryIV]

From <R11>

For the purposes of determining compliance with the weight and volume limitations, the items listed below are NOT considered part of the ROBOT and are NOT included in the weight and volume assessment:
A. the 12V battery and its associated half of the Anderson cable quick connect/disconnect pair (including no more than 12” of cable per leg, the associated cable lugs, connecting bolts, and insulating electrical tape),
B. BUMPER assemblies (including BUMPER covers, if appropriate) that are in compliance with Rules <R07> and <R08>,
C. the OPERATOR CONSOLE, and
D. the MINIBOT.

If R11 is correct and the minibot is not included in determining the robot volume limitations does this mean it is also not included in the R14?

<R14> When a ROBOT is in its STARTING CONFIGURATION, no part of the ROBOT shall extend outside the vertical projection of the FRAME PERIMETER.

This does not seem to make since as you would not be able to push a robot against a wall and not hit the minibot if it was outside the bumper perimeter. This is definitely something that needs clarification.

[Owen Meaker]

As I see it, the ROBOT is MINIBOT+HOSTBOT. Upon deploying, the MINIBOT is now seperate from the HOSTBOT, and so is not bounded by ROBOT and HOSTBOT restrictions, as the ROBOT no longer exists, just a MINIBOT and a HOSTBOT.

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by Owen Meaker

As I see it, the ROBOT is MINIBOT+HOSTBOT. Upon deploying, the MINIBOT is now seperate from the HOSTBOT, and so is not bounded by ROBOT and HOSTBOT restrictions, as the ROBOT no longer exists, just a MINIBOT and a HOSTBOT.

If that is the case there is no extension limit for a robot that does not have a Minibot.

[Jon Stratis]

AllenGregoryIV - In the past, that portion of <R11> has been there for the purposes of inspection - it makes sense to have teams remove their bumpers and batteries prior to weighing and sizing the robot. And this year, that includes the minibot.

Now, how does this apply to the starting configuration? Well, lets think about the battery. Is it legal to design a robot so the battery sticks out over the bumpers? If you tried that, I think just about any ref, inspector, or judge would have a fit. I would use this same common sense as it applies to the minibot - in the starting configuration, the only thing that should be outside your frame perimeter is the bumpers (and associated mounting hardware as may be allowed per <R07>). The Minibot should start out completely within your frame perimeter.

I think the original question in the thread is valid, and not entirely clear in the rules. Logically, you would expect the host bot and minibot to be considered separate entities after deployment, allowing you to move away from the tower, but the rules don't make that clarification. Rather, the rules only specify that the ROBOT is both of them combined, and they have to stay within the 60"(213.4cm) diameter vertical right cylindrical volume.

[AllenGregoryIV]

Thank you and I do understand that and have interrupted this rule in the past that way as well. And in all likely hood that is the spirit of the rule this year.

I think the confusion is generated in that if the MINIBOT is not included in "ROBOT" in this rule why did they not use the term HOSTBOT. I just think it could have been worded better and would like an update to ensure that this is the way the rule will be enforced. <R14> would restrict starting the MINIBOT outside of the bumpers but that still leaves potential for the MINIBOT to start above the 60" height restriction. A simple rule stating that the MINIBOT must be contained in the STARTING DIMENSIONS at the start of the match would suffice to remove the ambiguity.

I also think the MINIBOT's starting position inside the robot should be part of the inspection to ensure that it complies with these rules.

Especially when we are going to have teams swapping out MINIBOTs this could be very confusing. If a team's MINIBOT is slightly longer then another's and they swap will that team be allowed to play if the MINIBOT extends past the bumper perimeter slightly?