Just a question about the minibots…
Is it allowed to be a two aprt machine… ie something attaches to the base and another launches off that via surgical tubing or something?
Are we even allowed to “kinetically” launch the minibots… as in have them fired up the pole no motors or anything?
Are VEX kits included in part of the TETRIX kit?
Much to the chagrin of many, VEX parts are not allowed on the minibot…
As for the G42 rule im talking about kinetially shooting the minibot up the pole once the mechanism has attached to the pole itself… like launching it using the polea s a guide to hit the top/…
Dr.,
Please be patient…
Al, I think I understand what he’s asking: When the minibot is deployed, it’s in two parts. One part is a launcher for the other, and both contact the pole.
If they were one unit, I don’t think there would be a problem. However, in the case of there being two units, <G42> applies, as the minibot is intentionally detaching a part. Or, the launcher could be part of the hostbot.
Caveat: If the GDC decides that launched minibots of any form are not legal, disregard this.
That rule exempts mini-bot deployment so detaching a part to launch a mini-robot is legal.
(with the exception of appropriate DEPLOYMENT of the MINIBOT)
The word that sets me off a little is “appropriate”. What do they consider appropriate?
The problem I see with this is that anything defined as being part of the minibot must stay within a 12" x 12" x 12" box.
if the launcher is part of the robot (which we are not sure is legal) it would be ok, but if it’s part of the minibot then leaving part of the minibot behind while the other part is shot up the tower would be illegal since the two parts would be seperated by more than sqrt(3)*12" (longest straight line in a 12" cube).
I believe Leav has the correct response. G42 adds to that, no parts left behind.
Although there has been little discussion thus far, teams should keep in mind that they need to get the minibot down at the end of the match. If you don’t, the field reset people will. Can you say hardhat area?
Nothing says the minibot has to stay at the top once it has triggered the target.
(slightly) Off topic, but am I correct in thinking the minibot’s power is completely separated from the field? i.e. after the game, when all robots power down, the minibot is still running unless manually stopped, right?
Unless the GDC tells us otherwise, that is correct. I have seen nothing that indicates the MINIBOT will be under any kind of field control. And it has to be autonomous, so it can’t be under the control of the team.
Yes, you are correct. There is no connection to field management and no connection to the robot. It is a completely autonomous device.
MINIBOT – an autonomous vehicle designed and built to perform specific tasks when competing in the 2011 competition LogoMotion. The MINIBOT must obviously follow a design approach intended to play the 2011 FRC END GAME and must be compliant with all MINIBOT rules defined in Section 4.3.14.
Emphasis mine for correction of the reference to robot rules.
AnotherQuestion:
does the robot need to be self proppelled up the post?
does a minibot have to remain in the 12x12x12 size once deployed?
We don’t know; I’m sure it will be asked when Q&A opens.
does a minibot have to remain in the 12x12x12 size once deployed?
No, it could get smaller. 
But it can’t expand.
<R91> The MINIBOT may not exceed a 12” x 12” x 12” volume and weigh no more than 15 lbs.
Slightly unrelated, but would it be legal for the minibot to have an external power source?
Ex: Having the Minibot’s power come from a tether cable connected to the main robot?
Let’s see… Minibot must be 12"x12"x12" or less (<R91>) and must be constructed of only the things in <R92> (which includes one specific battery and no other).
You tell me.
Sheesh, maybe we missed something in our prototyping. For the life of us we couldn’t get any sort of minibot to ‘launch’ up a pole with enough efficiency to hit 8’, let alone hit it with enough force to trip a sensor…
Though I suppose that a PVC piece that gets velcroed together around the pole is something that we didn’t try. If only there weren’t a snow day today…
It would be such a shame if a velcroed PVC pipe consituted a pole-climbing minibot. (Just my opinion though)
<G42> States that “Robots, Minibots, or Hostbots may not intentionally detatch parts or leave Mechanisms on the Field (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF APPROPRIATE DEPLOYEMENT OF THE MINIBOT)” So that means that you could actually have two parts to your Minibot, as long as it is ONLY used for the deployment of it.
Actually the minibot would not have two parts… the deployment part is part of the hostbot.
I think we all need to wait and see what Q and A or the Updates say about much of this. I am sure they will make it more clear.
or they could make it more confusing… errr…
I personally don’t think that thinking of the minibot as a projectile is worth much time until we know…
My personal odds on that are about 99 to 1 against allowing a mini-projectile ring launch…