Minibot switches and soft landings

[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by Vermeulen

We also did this. We had a small latex tubing cushion on the bottom, but removed it due to deployer issues. Our minibot never had any problems with this. On a semi-related note, you don't want to have the minibot contact the deployer if at all possible. I've seen red cards being given because of this.

Can you provide a rule that would indicate this is a red card/yellow card/penalty?

-Brando

[cgmv123]

<G22> HOSTBOTS may not contact their ALLIANCE‟S MINIBOT while any part of it is above the DEPLOYMENT LINE.

[Andrew Bates]

Originally Posted by cgmv123

<G22> HOSTBOTS may not contact their ALLIANCE‟S MINIBOT while any part of it is above the DEPLOYMENT LINE.

At least in our setup, when the minibot can touch the deployment, the minibot is not above the deployment line.

[cgmv123]

That should be legal.

[Vermeulen]

@Brando

Hm, I guess I was misreading rule G22 as not being able to contact the hostbot after any part crosses the deployment line, and not as long as any part is over the deployment line. In that case, I don't know what our partner's red card was given for during that match, we just assumed it was a G22 violation.

[boomergeek]

Originally Posted by Vermeulen

@Brando

Hm, I guess I was misreading rule G22 as not being able to contact the hostbot after any part crosses the deployment line, and not as long as any part is over the deployment line. In that case, I don't know what our partner's red card was given for during that match, we just assumed it was a G22 violation.

If a deployer swings the minibot down, like a drawbridge, and as it comes down if any portion of the minibot is above the deployment line and simultaneously within the vertical cylinder of the tower and in contact with the deployer- independent of whether it is in contact with the pole, I think the referees will rule it in violation.

Here's a whole thread on it...

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ent+cylind er

[11douglash]

What we did is find a 4 way light switch (i believe). Basically, it was a switch that flipped polarities. Then there was another switch that triggered when the robot hit the pole.

Our minibot went up, flipped the polarity switching switch, powered down, hit the bottom, and then, due to the mechanical way the wheels were rotating, fell off, and thus broke the switch that kept it powered, and turned off.

[penguinfrk]

This was the circuit diagram for our minibot.



When we short the motors, the current generated when backdriving will go through the circuit again the opposite direction. The result is a fairly slow terminal velocity when it falls.

Hope that helped.