More than one minibot on robot

[Radical Pi]

Originally Posted by web_master_dpep

When looking at scoring it talks about a fourth bot on a pole being worth 10 points. That would imply, at least to me, that you could infact deploy two, if you had the time.

Are you referring to <G67>? That states that the 4th robot to trigger the target earns 10 points. It has nothing to do with number of robots on poles

[web_master_dpep]

Originally Posted by Radical Pi

Are you referring to <G67>? That states that the 4th robot to trigger the target earns 10 points. It has nothing to do with number of robots on poles

Misread that part thanks for the correction. Read it before I had time to get a little sleep.

[EricH]

For those talking about throwing:

Read the definition of Deployment and all of Game Section 3.1.5 regarding where you can deploy a minibot. Then read the safety rules.

You cannot deploy above the line.

[1631JD]

Its more like having two so that we can deploy on either side and do not have to waste time making sure the ROBOT is on the correct side for DEPLOYMENT. It is not for an attempt to deploy two in a single match.

[StevenB]

I suspect this will get clarified tomorrow, but I feel that the answer is obvious as it is.

Originally Posted by Game manual, page 11

The ROBOT includes both the HOSTBOT and the MINIBOT (ROBOT = HOSTBOT + MINIBOT).

As said before, "MINIBOT" is singular, meaning that if you have two, one of them is part of the HOSTBOT. It doesn't matter if you have two identical devices, one of them is a MINIBOT (and therefore excluded from the HOSTBOT size/weight rules) and the other is not. The latter device (which I'll call the NOTBOT) must be weighed with the HOSTBOT and fit the size constraints with the HOSTBOT. If you deploy the NOTBOT, you've broken <G42>. You can't argue that whichever one you deploy is the MINIBOT and the other is the NOTBOT, because at inspection, one of them was part of the HOSTBOT, and one was the MINIBOT. Changing this is a violation of <R88>.

Based on <R10> and the definition of ROBOT, it seems safe to say, "Each team can enter ONE (1) HOSTBOT plus ONE (1) MINIBOT into the 2011 FRC."

Having multiple minibots is a clever and fun idea, but I can't see how the rules allow this.

[Karibou]

Originally Posted by 1631JD

Its more like having two so that we can deploy on either side and do not have to waste time making sure the ROBOT is on the correct side for DEPLOYMENT. It is not for an attempt to deploy two in a single match.

If we find out via Q&A that each team is only allowed one minibot on the hostbot, something that you might want to consider is having a deployment mechanism that can deploy in either direction. It might be mechanically tougher, but it is do-able (maybe a small turret of some kind would do the trick).

[1631JD]

Originally Posted by Karibou

something that you might want to consider is having a deployment mechanism that can deploy in either direction. It might be mechanically tougher, but it is do-able (maybe a small turret of some kind would do the trick).

Most likely though a turret would interfere with the arm and couldn't have full rotational capabilities.

[davidthefat]

Even if you can have 2 bots, why waste the space and weight?

[1631JD]

Originally Posted by davidthefat

Even if you can have 2 bots, why waste the space and weight?

Well we are already going to build at least two minibots for the coopertition points, and if it provides beneficial to have two then why not do it?

Originally Posted by EricH

Why not put the arm on the turret? Now you can grab tubes off whatever side of the robot is handiest, and launch the minibot on whatever side is handiest--and the minibot may act as a partial counterweight to the arm if you do it right.

Full rotational capabilities are tougher--run your wires/tubing up the middle with room to twist a bit, and I think you could do it without a problem. Running up/around the side will give you headaches.

Thanks. We'll see if it will work, though the only problem could be accidental damage to the arm. That is the risk though in competitions like this so I guess its no big deal.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by 1631JD

Most likely though a turret would interfere with the arm and couldn't have full rotational capabilities.

Why not put the arm on the turret? Now you can grab tubes off whatever side of the robot is handiest, and launch the minibot on whatever side is handiest--and the minibot may act as a partial counterweight to the arm if you do it right.

Full rotational capabilities are tougher--run your wires/tubing up the middle with room to twist a bit, and I think you could do it without a problem. Running up/around the side will give you headaches.

[Karibou]

Originally Posted by torihoelscher

We are only allowed one on the robot. They cannot be past 15 pounds adding more than one will make the robot really heavy. My team was thinking the same thing but we are only allowed one. We are allowed to make more than one but we cannot have more than one on the robot.


Tori

Is there a rule that states this?

[Karibou]

Originally Posted by torihoelscher

We found it inside the manual. Unsure where. My whole team was talking about this.

Then we're going to have to take it as unknown unless a specific rule is cited, unfortunately :/ (not that we don't trust you - it's just that in a competition where the written rules are non-negotiable, our rule has to be "Cite a rule or it didn't happen")

[Waffles]

Originally Posted by torihoelscher

We are only allowed one on the robot. They cannot be past 15 pounds adding more than one will make the robot really heavy. My team was thinking the same thing but we are only allowed one. We are allowed to make more than one but we cannot have more than one on the robot.


Tori

Sorry, can you reference a rule point from the manual? I mean, it's still good for Q&A otherwise XD

Thanks

[GaryVoshol]

And I found this definition:

HOSTBOT – the electromechanical assembly used to carry the MINIBOT. (ROBOT – MINIBOT = HOSTBOT). If a TEAM plays a MATCH without a MINIBOT, then the HOSTBOT is the ROBOT.

If you subtract a MINIBOT from the ROBOT, what's left is a HOSTBOT. So any "second minibot" would become part of that HOSTBOT.

I imagine the GDC thought they specified one MINIBOT; there will probably be a clarification.