UpForce

[maxgebhardt]

well I belive they removed the restriction on springs this year, so maybe elastic tubing is ok, but a custom spring could be wound before hand. the problem is
#1, winding it. you'd need a big lever, a sturdy frame, something to hold the robot in place (drill into the georgia dome floor?) and some strong kids.
#2 stopping it from going off instantly, so some sort of arresting mecanism.
#3some type of counter rotation mechanism, like the boom on a helocopter.
#4 a really good driver to get it in place perfectly.
#5 a light system.
also have you thought of using a compressor to hold air, then to turn a turbine, thus turning a shaft? also they mention "safe" alot, and a robot which when broken could litter the crowd with metal spinning at high velocity could be impounded, not by the inpectors, but by the government as some type of deadly flying bomb...

and while I'm dreaming... what about orienting the robot to start on its nose and let it fall down, leaving 60" for the boom and prop, while making it be 36" high.