Mini-bot Ideas

[TNaylor]

Originally Posted by dsmith14469

Something our team learned is that the sensor that needs to be triggered is 3 limits switches wired in series positioned around the circle. So launching an item my trigger only one switch and no the other two in which case no score.

Actually, since they are in series, actuating just one switch would disrupt the entire circuit and would be registered as a score.

[Beta Version]

Originally Posted by dsmith14469

Something our team learned is that the sensor that needs to be triggered is 3 limits switches wired in series positioned around the circle. So launching an item my trigger only one switch and no the other two in which case no score.

actually, per my understanding, these switches are held between two plates. The minibot hitting the bottom plate will activate all the switches

[Wayne TenBrink]

Originally Posted by TNaylor

Actually, since they are in series, actuating just one switch would disrupt the entire circuit and would be registered as a score.

Are the switches normally open or normally closed?

[MechJim]

We were considering ideas that would not require any electrical devices for the minibot. For example, the minibot could be constructed small, lightweight, and powered by a wind up spring mechanism. As the host bot pulls away from the minibot it could release a latch that then lets the minibot shoot up the pole with stored spring power driving wheels or such. Unfortunatly, per the materials list it looks like any team wanting to power the minibot with a spring must use either rubber bands or the surgical tubing.

Am I missing anything in the rules that would prevent us from powering a minibot by stored spring energy as long as it is deemed safe?

Thanks

MechJim
Team 3284

[578robotsrock]

I am extremely interested to see if launched mini-bots will be allowed

[pfreivald]

I think that there are a lot of unknowns right now about what, exactly, is legal as far as MINIBOTs are concerned. "Climb", "deploy", and "autonomous" are all sufficiently ambiguous that there is a lot of outside the box thinking going on -- some of which will be legal in the end, some of which won't, and all of which is good stuff either way.

Originally Posted by MechJim

Am I missing anything in the rules that would prevent us from powering a minibot by stored spring energy as long as it is deemed safe?

Well, keep in mind the material usage rules... Springs aren't allowed, although elastic deformation is possible with other materials.

[JesseK]

If you think you want to launch a minibot, PROTOTYPE IT. We did.

No really, try it. Then come back with the results. There's way too much conjecture in this thread...

[HazzardFuzzBomb]

Sorry I don't have the insides of the rule so can someone post them but check out rule g20

[lbl1731]

Has anybody else come to the conclusion that the mini-bot can be anything? I've read very carefully through the rules and theres no rule that says the mini-bot has to be deployed on the pole or at the tower. All it has to do is trigger the target. Other than obvious safety concerns, theres no rule that says we can't just launch a tennis ball across the field and hit the target. The tennis ball would be the mini-bot. Well a tennis ball isn't allowed i suppose by the mini-bot material rules. So how about throwing a FTC wheel up there? As long as it is a controlled toss it wouldn't pose much of a safety hazard. And it fits all of the rule requirements.

The GDC has to put our some more rules concerning the mini-bot and I think they will. This also explains the mysterious missing section 3.4.14....

Something to think about.

[pfreivald]

Originally Posted by lbl1731

Something to think about.

There are too many unknowns on the MINIBOTs. I think they seriously need to define 'climb' and 'deploy'.

I suspect that when all is said and done, the MINIBOT will have to maintain continuous contact with the tower on its way up (thus "climb" and not "jump"), and DEPLOYMENT that adds vertical kinetic energy to the MINIBOT will be disallowed...

I'm not positive, but that's my suspicion.

[Mongai]

Originally Posted by lbl1731

I've read very carefully through the rules and theres no rule that says the mini-bot has to be deployed on the pole or at the tower.

Are you sure you read the rules carefully? I suggest you re-read rule <G20>.

[lbl1731]

Originally Posted by Mongai

Are you sure you read the rules carefully? I suggest you re-read rule <G20>.

Yeah I read that, but that says nothing about the mini-bots not being able to contact the tower above the deployment line. And as long as you propelled the mini-bot below the line, that satisfies rule <G20>.

[Duke461]

Originally Posted by lbl1731

Yeah I read that, but that says nothing about the mini-bots not being able to contact the tower above the deployment line. And as long as you propelled the mini-bot below the line, that satisfies rule <G20>.

The only thing right now that would support the minibot always having to stay on the pole is:
<G46> MINIBOTS may only be used to climb the TOWER.
Violation: YELLOW CARD
The reason i bring that rule up is because you're not climbing the tower if you're not touching it. So there's no rule so far saying you can't do that, but I can almost guarantee you that rule will be established (that you always have to stay in contact with it)

[NinjaMonicaRox]

A motorized minibot is easy to come up with. What I'm having a difficult time coming up with are ideas for a spring powered one, maybe like a mousetrap car sort of thing but I'm not sure...

[billbo911]

Originally Posted by HazzardFuzzBomb

Sorry I don't have the insides of the rule so can someone post them but check out rule g20

Here is <G20>

<G20> ROBOTS/HOSTBOTS may not contact their own TOWERS above the DEPLOYMENT LINE. Violation: PENALTY for contact. TOWER is disabled if MINIBOT is DEPLOYED above the DEPLOYMENT LINE.