Mini-bot Ideas

[Tetraman]

When I saw the little guy on the game animation, I instiantly figured we could use Hexbug parts. I was thinking of how cool it would to have a modified Ant Hexbug race up the tower.

[Bjenks548]

I personally think as of now with the current rules, launching a minibot up the tower, while it starts at the base is legal. I do not think firing the minibot across the field is however as I look at the definition of deployment and safety. Also to whoever said the tennis ball idea I'm 99% sure that wasn't in the list of parts for the minibot.

[AndrewMcRadical]

Originally Posted by Tetraman

When I saw the little guy on the game animation, I instiantly figured we could use Hexbug parts. I was thinking of how cool it would to have a modified Ant Hexbug race up the tower.

parts list

[Nemisis]

just keep in mind everyone... It's not going to take very much force at all to trigger the thing at the top so all the minibot has to do is reach the top before another does... Given that the bot has only 10 seconds to reach the top, at that velocity it will most definitely trigger.

[Dragon Princess]

<G19> was reinstated that a host bat can't launch the mini bot up the pole, or contribute to the vertical movement, and energy for vertical deployment cannot be stored in the minibot before deployment.
It also states that the minibot has to be deployed on a tower or else a penalty of the highest race score is implied.

I think that now throwing the minibot from the hostbot should be out of the design, it seems as if they want us to build the minibot like a FTC team would.

<R92> A. has TETRIX components that are not in violation of any other rules.

[lil'est lavery]

Thank you,

<G19> MINIBOTS must remain completely autonomous and move up the POST solely through electric energy provided after DEPLOYMENT by the permitted, unaltered battery and converted to mechanical energy by the permitted unaltered motors (and associated, appropriate circuitry). Violation: The TOWER on which the MINIBOT is DEPLOYED is disabled. If the MINIBOT is DEPLOYED on something other than a TOWER, then the ALLIANCE’S TOWER upon which the highest RACE SCORE was earned will be discounted.
<G19> means that HOSTBOTS are not allowed to launch the MINIBOT up the pole at the TARGET, or otherwise contribute to the vertical movement of the MINIBOT. Energy for vertical movement may not be stored in the MINIBOT before DEPLOYMENT (except that which is contained within the battery and excluding incidental kinetic energy stored in the motors or wheels, but NOT, for example, in a flywheel).

[Duke461]

Now that we've received some design changing news, does anybody have non-stored-energy-that-contributes-to-the-vertical-movement-of-the-robot ideas?

[pfreivald]

I don't know that there would be anything more efficient than wheels, to be honest. (Given the design restraints.)

I don't mind the FTC thing... I just wish that we had to use the battery/no-stored-energy restriction and **weren't allowed** to use wheels...

[Grim Tuesday]

One of my friends mentioned corkscrews. I dont know how it would work, but it would be interesting.

[blackrocks0]

Originally Posted by Hawiian Cadder

i think the plan with my team is to use the main robot to "Launch" the minibot, rather than have it move under its own power. it should work alright. i also think that our mini-bot wont have any electrics, entirely potential energy driven.

I'm sure that the robot has to move under its own power after the first 18 inches of the pole. (also sure you can't use springs)/.

[wilsehn]

didn't read everyones but the robot has to be self driven-that means no springs or rocket boosters the general sensus seems to be that putting the robot on the pole is quicker than having it drive off the 'hostbot' so likewise it would be good for teams to have a deployment system that does not require the mini to drive.

[FatBabyJezus]

Hmm. How about utilizing magnets, like a maglev train?
Use the magnets to attach to the steel pipe, then flip a switch and propel it to the top?
Would it work?

[SAMBURGER]

Team Update #1 clarifies <G19> to make spring-launching a MINIBOT illegal. The HOSTBOT can't give any upward motion to the MINIBOT. The MINIBOT must climb using only a motor powered by its battery, with no other stored energy permitted.

[Duke461]

Originally Posted by SAMBURGER

Team Update #1 clarifies <G19> to make spring-launching a MINIBOT illegal. The HOSTBOT can't give any upward motion to the MINIBOT. The MINIBOT must climb using only a motor powered by its battery, with no other stored energy permitted.

That's not word for word. It just has to be electrical energy then converted to mechanical energy.

This might sound like a dumb question, but is an electromagnetic still considered an acceptable mini-bot part (AA. magnets)?

[Matt C]