Mini Bot standardization

[Kbot]

I think it is pretty clear all minibots will be 12 x 12 x 12 max. but how will your team tell the minibot to climb? I don't see any restrictions aside from the fact that the minibot can't use radio at any time. So, do you use pole contact to make it go or do you use IR from the Host bot to propel it up the pole? It seems like you might want a standard method for triggering so you could use anyones minibot. Perhaps a Lego bump switch?

How do you align the minibot to the pole? What if the minbot pole climbing mechanism in not in the center of the minibot?

How will you keep your minibot inside the Hostbot while driving around and during collisions? Not quite a standardization topic.

[2011FRC1189]

I think any team that does not have a minibot but intends to borrow one from another team should consider 4 basic considerations in their hostbot design:

1. An output to trigger a servo, motor or cylinder (better if you can provide the actual servo, solenoid valve, jag or spike)

2. A level and clear "platform", 12" off the ground, ~4" wide for mounting launcher, and as deep into their robot as possible. Minimum penetration into the back (or front if more open) of their robot would be 12", but the larger the better. Platform zone has to have at least 12" of clearance in the width but better is to have a "flat bed" that is wide open. Best to provide a pattern of attachment (lightening) holes along the platform.

3. Ideally you have a way to position the centerline of your hostbot with a centerline of the platform. This would put your bumper on the tangent of the platform. My opinion is that this will be the easiest location to deploy a minibot from. Some teams may deploy from the side becuase you can drive fore-aft and basically circle the tower until you are as close as possible.

4. At least a pound and as much as five pounds of available weight budget (restrict your hostbot to 115#)

If you do these three things, I guarantee that you will have someone who can put a successful minibot onto your robot. If you are at one of our competitions, maybe it will be us (1189 Gearheads) who is sharing.

[Bob Gross]

Legos are made from PVC. Are they allowed because of this?

[merle]

Originally Posted by Bob Gross

Legos are made from PVC. Are they allowed because of this?

LEGO pieces are made from ABS plastic, not PVC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego).

Merle
Granby GRUNTS #3146 - Mentor
Granby Red Blox FLL - Coach
Jr Granby Red Blox JrFLL - Coach

[2011FRC3011]

We were considering a break-away design for a minibot where the battery remained on the pedistal and the wheels and associated mechanisms climbed the pole alone. Power to the motors would be delivered via unspooling wire. Does the minibot have to remain intact as one unit?

[RSaunders]

Originally Posted by 2011FRC3011

We were considering a break-away design for a minibot where the battery remained on the pedistal and the wheels and associated mechanisms climbed the pole alone. Power to the motors would be delivered via unspooling wire. Does the minibot have to remain intact as one unit?

The minibot's size is limited to 12". If part of the minibot is at the bottom of the pole and part of the minibot is at the top of the pole, the minibot is 10 feet tall. That's too big.

If you consider the battery part of the robot, then your robot is touching the minibot when it is above the line. That's also illegal.

I think you need to build a minibot that can lift that battery up the pole.

[2011FRC3565]

Is a metal conduit clip pipe clamp considered "misc. hardware"? Can we use fabric as well?

Thank you.

Good Luck to all the FIRST FRC teams!

Rena Jo Coffman - Lead Mentor
Connersville Robotics #3565
T.R.E.A.D.S.