new from IFI

[Lil' Lavery]

hey look at this cool new wheel from IFI that I found.
http://ifirobotics.com/robot-traction-wheels.shtml

cool aint it?

[sciguy125]

Is that a game hint? Does that mean we'll need more traction next year?

[RogerR]

very cool. now i know what i want for christmas. here's hoping these ship in the kit...

[David Kelly]

Originally Posted by RogerR

very cool. now i know what i want for christmas. here's hoping these ship in the kit...

AndyMark, Inc. is also selling a very similar set of traction wheels.

[Conor Ryan]

Here maybe even more of a hint: http://ifirobotics.com/images/wheels/IMG_0152.jpg

is that the...kit chassis?

Oh and on the andymark wheels are 4", 5", and 6" outside diameter whereas the IFI wheels are 4", 6", 8". Other changes that I noticed where the differences in the Tread with (a key player in friction)

Outside Diameter-Width (of tread)
AndyMark
4"-1.3"
5"-1.8"
6"-1.8"
IFI
4"-1", 1.5", 2"
6"-1", 1.5", 2"
8"-1", 1.5", 2"

[Jeff Rodriguez]

Anyone notice the title of the page?

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by sciguy125

Is that a game hint? Does that mean we'll need more traction next year?

Hey, I'm not my dad, I dont know anything!
I just thought these were cool, although the kit frame at the bottom (or what appears to be) might signals something....

[Cory]

The method of construction they chose to use is very interesting.

[RogerR]

Originally Posted by David Kelly

AndyMark, Inc. is also selling a very similar set of traction wheels.

the one feature that makes me like these more is that (it appears) you can attach sprockets on both sides of the wheels. also, it appears that it would be relatively easy to make a hub for these that could keyed, and fit on the inside of the wheel.

[DeepWater]

It also appears that the wheels are flat on the sides so they can be "stacked" to make them 2 or 3 (or more) wheels wide. Another nifty design feature. Hmm, by combining wheels of 1", 1.5", or 2" width you can have just about any width wheel you want in 0.5" increments. I wonder if they will be included in the KoP or how much they will cost. They seem to made from all stamped and bent flat material so they should be fairly cost effective/cheap. Cool design!

[Joe Johnson]

One of the things I like about IFI, AM, etc. offering these kind of cool products is that they bring good solid engineering solutions to many teams that have little chance of rolling their own.

Beatty, WildStang, TechnoKats, Chief Delphi, International Fuel Cell, etc, they have had access to these solutions from day one. Now many many more teams can have them on their robots.

I think it is a good thing.

Joe J.

[Mike Schroeder]

For some odd reason these wheels smell like JVN (and by the way might wanna coinsider some new deoderant dude) :-p

[sciguy125]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

Hey, I'm not my dad, I dont know anything!

That's what he wants you to think... Or maybe that's what you want us to think...

[Ryan M.]

Ha! Our team used that tread stuff on our wheels last year. It did work very well.

[Rickertsen2]

I do not think that these have anything to do with this year's game or are a hint in any way. I do however thing they are a nifty product. They look extremely light weight yet adequately beefy. Who would have thought of using sheet metal for wheels? There is no price, but i am guessing that these should be signifigantly cheeper than offerings from places like RobotCombat.com and AM which are either turned or cast. My only complaint is that there is no 5/8" shaft option, but all you need to do is buy different bearings.


----- edit ------
It is interesting to note that the page title is "IFI Robotics - FRC 2005 Kit Parts". perhaps they will be in the kit or we will receive a voucher to order whatever size we want.