Minibot Spring?

[Justin Murphy]

I know that launching the minibot or any type of upward motion is against the rules but if a spring were used to grab the pole would that be legal? Rule <R92> says we can use Mechanical Hardware, a spring is mechanical hardware.

[Stephen of REX]

You'd have to ask Q&A if a spring is considered Mechanical Hardware. I would just go with surgical tubing.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Justin Murphy

I know that launching the minibot or any type of upward motion is against the rules but if a spring were used to grab the pole would that be legal? Rule <R92> says we can use Mechanical Hardware, a spring is mechanical hardware.

The listed mechanical hardware is nuts and bolts and washers and stuff like that. I don't count springs as falling into that category.

[bbenne0473]

But springs are devices used to store mechanical energy. The use won't be for propulsion, just to hold things together.

With that said, won't they be considered mechanical hardware?

[Basel A]

Originally Posted by bbenne0473

But springs are devices used to store mechanical energy. The use won't be for propulsion, just to hold things together.

With that said, won't they be considered mechanical hardware?

You may store energy for totally non-vertical propulsion. Only stored energy for vertical movement is disallowed. That I wouldn't consider springs to be mechanical hardware.