Minibot

[EricH]

Please start by reading the rules.

Safety: I'd personally regard this as a major safety violation. You're throwing something of significant mass (15 lbs) up something like 10 feet vertically. If you miss and hit a ref, you can expect not to ever be allowed to use it again--assuming you pass inspection in the first place.
Legality: There is a deployment line on the poles. Contact above that by the robots is prohibited (minibots excepted, but they must be free of the robot--See Game Section 3.1.5 for details). Also <G20> applies.

I don't see any rule that the minibot must use a motor--Game Section 4.3.14--but you'll need to latch on somehow.

[RandAlThor]

But if the minibot is essentially a projectile, then it wouldn't need to be very heavy, maybe a few pounds max, and if it is latched on well enough, it should be quite safe.

But another thing the think about is whether there is a maximum force which you can hit the target, just in case the target gets broken by the minibot.

[EricH]

If it misses, it's very dangerous. Then you throw in the deployment line rules.

Poof balls and soccer balls are meant to deform when they hit something or something hits them. If you threw a metal ball of similar weight, it would hurt more. And there is very little padding allowed by the Minibot rules. Imagine a latching device-say 1/2 lb--launched upwards to the target. That's some significant force (must be dealt with on the robot), plus if you miss, you not only have velocity but all the KE you have from the altitude. If you miss and there's a ref or robot right there, they'll probably move out of the way to avoid getting hit--if they can. Now your minibot hits the floor. It better be sturdy, and under <G46> and <G42>, you're liable to penalty as well.

If you miss, and I'm the head ref at the event, I'm probably going to call you on safety, too.

The risk ain't worth it.

[EricH]

Deploying above the deployment line is not allowed.

Originally Posted by Game Section 1.6

DEPLOYMENT – the act of positioning a MINIBOT on a TOWER. DEPLOYMENT starts when the MINIBOT breaks the vertical projection of the TOWER BASE circumference during the END GAME. (Related form, DEPLOY, verb)

If the minibot crosses that projection above the line, no good. If I'm reading the definition right, the launching and the latching would both be parts of deployment, so if you latch higher than the line, no good.

Also see the safety notes I've suggested.

[Alex2614]

Originally Posted by EricH

If it misses, it's very dangerous. Then you throw in the deployment line rules.

Poof balls and soccer balls are meant to deform when they hit something or something hits them. If you threw a metal ball of similar weight, it would hurt more. And there is very little padding allowed by the Minibot rules. Imagine a latching device-say 1/2 lb--launched upwards to the target. That's some significant force (must be dealt with on the robot), plus if you miss, you not only have velocity but all the KE you have from the altitude. If you miss and there's a ref or robot right there, they'll probably move out of the way to avoid getting hit--if they can. Now your minibot hits the floor. It better be sturdy, and under <G46> and <G42>, you're liable to penalty as well.

If you miss, and I'm the head ref at the event, I'm probably going to call you on safety, too.

The risk ain't worth it.

If the minibot is connected to the tower the same way the ones at the kickoff were, but were deployed with the spring system, it would not detach from the tower, therefore eliminating all safety issues. If it is really light, it will not break the top.

[kfgk14]

Regarding the comment about it weighing 15 pounds, there is no requirement that it weighs that much. If it was a project alone, it need not weigh very much at all.
I've read the rules, I just was wondering if there was anything further on the subject, and what other's interpretations where.
It says contact with the minibot above the deployment line is not allowed.
Given that there is an eighteen inch space for this spring fulcrum to launch the minibot, there may even be space for sufficient acceleration of this bot.
Further ideas?

[beandip3160]

Originally Posted by kfgk14

Hypothetically, if one wanted to use a spring-loaded fulcrum to launch their minibot up the tower, would that be legal? Would the minibot then be considered a projectile? Does the minibot have to use a motor?
Would this be considered a safety hazard?
Could this (or a variation of this concept) be legal?

The rules say that you cant use stored energy
also the host bot itself may not deploy the minibot

[pfreivald]

Originally Posted by beandip3160

also the host bot itself may not deploy the minibot

What?

I'm not sure what you mean by this, but it suddenly has me very worried that I have missed something rather important!

[dodar]

Does the entire minibot have to climb the pole or can like half go up and the other half stay at the bottom?

NVM, cant grow bigger than the size limit.

[anthonyttu]

Again as stated many times it is important to fully read the rules. <R91> "The MINIBOT may not exceed a 12"x12"x12" volume. Separating would definitely make it larger then 12"