Mini-bot Ideas

[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)?

[atinylittlemuon]

Originally Posted by 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?

unfortunetly no, maglev track consists of multiple small magnets of alternating polarity (N,S,N,S...) so the train is propelled by rapidly changing the polarity of its own magnets to cause it to be pulled forward and pushed from behind

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maglev_...rt)#Propulsion

short of chopping up the pole and magnitizing all the pieces, that wouldn't work. but that would be awesome if we could.

[SPFDEXP]

Originally Posted by RevonZZ

One thing that really must be cleared before we begin designing our bots is wether we need to keep it up or just trigger the sensor at the top.

If I was given unlimited parts and access beyond the FTC parts I'd suggest a minibot propelled by small single burn rocket motors, replaced every game. That thing would fly.

I may be wrong but I believe we need to just trigger the sensor, but dont quote me on that. But it seemed that in the rule book it said we just needed to trigger the sensor

[LemmingBot]

well this is what my teams planning:


The paint got lost in the mail though

[JohnHorton]

I really like the idea of a launched minibot, as opposed to one running under its own power. A section of PVC that could fit around the pole (1.75" internal diameter, 6 in long) is about 105g. Say, with some form of hinging and latching system to secure it around the pole (split in half, with hinges on one side and magnets on the other, maybe?), it could weigh in at 120g. That wouldn't take much to produce the 4N or so at impact to trigger the target. Several thousandths of a joule or so.

[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...

[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