Coopertition points for borrowing minibot

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Bill_B

The existence of the minibot loan "program" is the exact reason that every team should build a deployer even if they aren't building a minibot themselves. Funny thing is, I first thought that the loan program was put into place to cover the likelihood that some, and maybe many, minibots will have less than graceful conclusions to their races. That would leave a team without a possible scoring source and very little time to repair it and have it re-inspected before their next match. The breakage factor seems all the more likely given the emphasis and premium being placed on lightness for the minibots.

There is no one size fits all deployment system that is going to work with every minibot and the teams that won't build the minibot probably won't have the knowledge or ability to build a deployment system either.
I would not be surprised if there weren't many (or any) teams that will be able to take advantage of the loaner program.

[waialua359]

My guess is that this "borrowing" of minibots are a result of not enough kits (or cost is too high) to give to each team, given that not all teams would make one anyway.
However, making it into a game incentive to let other teams borrow, I'd agree with Ed on this one. If a team cant even create a minibot for an event, there is almost no chance they'll come with a deployment system.
I dont know about you guys, but to me, the deployment system integrated with your tube scoring bot is a lot more difficult than making the minibot itself, given the constraints this year.
My guess is that we wont have more than 1 or 2 teams per tournament (most likely none) that can accept someone elses minibot successfully..............other than the collaborating teams with duplicate bots.

[Brandon_L]

I tried to post it up in Q&A but apparently I don't have access to post topics there or something. Can someone else give it a try?

[Bill_B]

We've both been around long enough to know the difference between "should" and "will" when it comes to robot design. I think you're right about the widespread absence of deployment mechanisms. Many teams will have enough to do to get a scoring robot running for game pieces. However, if some team were to poll their possible alliance partners for particulars on how to deploy those teams' minibots, they just might make a more viable robot by making a robot that could deploy a great number of those minibots.

That is, my strategy for a mechanically challenged team might consist of:
1. hold the ubertube, drive straight forward to score it on the highest peg it can reach. (not much movement required of the holding mechanism, release only)
2. go hang out at opposing alliance's alley and hamper robot traffic there as well as we can.
3. at the appropriate time bring someone else's minibot to the right pole, deploy it. (BTW don't wait for someone to offer a minibot. go looking for the ones you can already handle. BYOB bring your own battery )
4. hope our robot can be of service to some alliance on Saturday afternoon.

Being good at deploying minibots may just be the most useful skill on the field this year.