pic: 179 Swampthing 2011

[EricH]

With respect to the deployment height, it's during deployment. Deployment starts as soon as the Minibot crosses the cylinder formed by the vertical projection of the base of the tower.

If you're stowed right at the height limit, something you should check is that the Minibot doesn't go over the line while being deployed. The line is to be treated as a plane, according to the GDC via Q&A. It doesn't look like you'll have much of a problem there, but it never hurts to check.