Are Limited Slingshots allowed?

[noa_n_f]

One of our ideas to deploy the minibot consists of a surgical tubing assisted slingshot, thereyby extending the minibot past the pole's base. It would include a physical stop, preventing the slingshot from shooting the minibot any more than 18 inches. Do the game rules allow this? I know that slingshots are in a bit of a red zone.

[Joe G.]

I think that if the slingshot was mounted to the hostbot, and purely horizontal, you would be fine.

If the slingshot imparted any vertical motion on the minibot to gain an advantage in the race, or used energy stored on the minibot, you would have issues.

As with anything on Chiefdelphi, this is my unofficial interpretation, which does not hold any water at the inspection station.

[Mike Betts]

I agree with Joe. Under the current rules, most inspectors would take a close look as to safety. Are you preloaded and, if so, is there a fail safe mechanism to prevent premature deployment as your team places the robot onto the field, et cetera.

[Jon Stratis]

<G19> is pretty clear about vertical movement - make sure the slingshot doesn't violate that. If you are just talking about horizontally pushing the minibot onto the pole... it's all going to come down to safety. Safety while working on it, safety for the audience, safety for the field crew. The last thing we want is to see a 15lb, pointy metal object airborne.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Noa,
All of these answers are correct. Under no circumstances will you be allowed to impart vertical motion on the minibot by anything other than direct action of the FTC motor(s). Stored energy always will garner additional inspection.

[noa_n_f]

Thank you all very much for the input. The slingshot will aid purely in horizontal movement.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Noa,
The determination of vertical and horizontal motion on the minibot will be performed by the refs on the field during each match. Inspectors will determine the safety of the stored energy during the inspection process.