Minibot questions

[xideromri]

Can you or can you not have springs which are loaded during any part of the match?
If I can recall the manual says something about loaded springs but can you load them during the match?
Thank you,
Team #2230

[Anika N.]

Originally Posted by xideromri

Can you or can you not have springs which are loaded during any part of the match?
If I can recall the manual says something about loaded springs but can you load them during the match?
Thank you,
Team #2230

If the loaded springs are meant to be on the minibot, then no. It is not allowed. However, you are allowed loaded springs on your hostbot.

[xideromri]

Originally Posted by Anika N.

If the loaded springs are meant to be on the minibot, then no. It is not allowed. However, you are allowed loaded springs on your hostbot.

can i start the match with a loaded spring? or i need to load it during the match?

[u13mbenshoshan]

can somebody answer his question?
this is an issue

[notmattlythgoe]

From what I can tell the rules do not specifically state that you cannot have a pre-loaded spring. But they do have a warning in there that the discretion will be up to the judge. So my guess is that a large load probably cause some problems but a very small load will not.

[Leav]

IN ANY CASE - ANY ANSWER YOU GET HERE IS NOT OFFICIAL!
ONLY ANSWERS FROM THE OFFICIAL Q&A FORUM SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.

[GaryVoshol]

<R01> Energy used by FRC ROBOTS, (i.e., stored at the start of a MATCH), shall come only from the following sources:
A. Electrical energy derived from the onboard 12V battery (see Rule <R34> for specifications and further details).
B. Compressed air stored in the pneumatic system, stored at a maximum pressure of 120 PSI.
C. A change in the altitude of the ROBOT center of gravity.
D. Storage achieved by deformation of ROBOT parts.
[bluebox]Teams must be very careful when incorporating springs or other items to store energy on their ROBOT by means of part or material deformation. A ROBOT may be rejected at inspection if, in the judgment of the inspector, such items are unsafe.[/bluebox]

Notice the first line, FRC ROBOTS. Per the definitions, ROBOT = HOSTBOT + MINIBOT. So stored energy is allowed in a MINIBOT as well as the HOSTBOT. You just have to store the energy in an allowable material on the MINIBOT.

[u13mbenshoshan]

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

Notice the first line, FRC ROBOTS. Per the definitions, ROBOT = HOSTBOT + MINIBOT. So stored energy is allowed in a MINIBOT as well as the HOSTBOT. You just have to store the energy in an allowable material on the MINIBOT.

That is very foggy it could mean just about anything, and a teams worst nightmare is to have a part or robot removed from the robot the hour before the competition.
Soooooo...
Does anyone have a quote from the manual its self allowing or rejecting the idea

[cbeavers6790]

well if you were planning on using the spring to launch the minibot i wouldnt try that. That would be considered a safety hazard and is also not following the definition of deploying the minibot. using a spring to push somehting on the hostbot to push the minibot might be allowed but considering the amount of questions about this i think FIRST will be adressing this question in one of their updates.

[u13mbenshoshan]

Originally Posted by cbeavers6790

well if you were planning on using the spring to launch the minibot i wouldnt try that. That would be considered a safety hazard and is also not following the definition of deploying the minibot. using a spring to push somehting on the hostbot to push the minibot might be allowed but considering the amount of questions about this i think FIRST will be adressing this question in one of their updates.

Thank you but again untill an update comes out does anyone have a quote???
BTW: when is the next update coming out???

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by u13mbenshoshan

BTW: when is the next update coming out???

From the Administration section of the manual (you know, the parts without the password that you had a week or so before Kickoff to study):

Originally Posted by 2.6.1

Team Updates – will be posted at: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...nt.aspx?id=450
FIRST® 2011 FIRST Robotics Competition Manual - Section 2 - Communication Page 4 of 6
After the Kickoff FIRST will start posting Team Updates on line, Tuesdays by 5:00 PM and Fridays by 5:00 PM. Team Updates provide rules updates, important information about parts and administrative reminders/deadlines. Please note:
 Unexpected circumstances may, on occasion, delay this publication;
 Additional updates may be released, if necessary; and
 Occasionally, FIRST will publish revisions to manual sections.