Is the minibot independent from the FMS?

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by squirrel

Probably legal if you don't damage the field equipment. Is it wise? that's a separate question....seems to me it would be better for your minibot's longevity to make it go back down on it's own.

Well, a "dummy" minibot could potentially just consist of two wheels and a limitswitch with proper wiring that just powers the motors when the limitswitch is active. It would be a lot easier to "knock off and catch" this minibot than it would to add the weight of an NXT to make it go back down.

[MrForbes]

There might be other ways to get it to "know" that it has to come back down, and make that happen. Think outside the control system box

[EricH]

Originally Posted by squirrel

There might be other ways to get it to "know" that it has to come back down, and make that happen. Think outside the control system box

I suspect that it might be possible to rig a set of limit switches to reverse the motor power, and lock them down to keep it reversed. Haven't actually tried it, though.

[Kims Robot]

Finally found a use for those silly Nifty Nabbers from 2009!! Just put a little "handle" on your robot and use the Nifty Nabber!

[SuperBK]

I'm thinking that if the motors just turned off, the minibot would just coast back down. This depends on the design of course. If the switch that turns if off, shorts the motor leads together this would provide braking.

Also the force required to activate the switch is 2-4 newtons. That converts to .44 to .88 pounds. Is that the right conversion? Thats quite a bit. If teams don't design the minibots to push that hard, the switch won't be activated.

Brian