Speed vs. Power

[Henry_222]

Originally Posted by Ryan M.

Come on people... both? The whole point of the choice is that, technically, you can't truly have optimal speed and optimal power... Which do you feel is more important to the game?

No, I have most definitely driven a robot that had optimal speed and optimal power.

[Joe Johnson]

This is a silly poll (imho)

One might as well ask which is more important Length or Area?

Perhaps you mean Speed or Torque? At least then you'd be asking the question akin to Length Vs. Width.

I don't get me started about ways to make this a false choice (by adding another motor, I mean, more Area).

Sloppy thinking leads to sloppy designs...

Joe J.

[Matt Adams]

To briefly restate Dr. Joe's thoughts:

Power = Speed * Torque

Area = Length * Width

You can't have more speed without having more power.

I think the question you are asking is about:

Pushing Force vs. Speed (which is essentialy Torque vs. Speed)

Matt

[CyberCheetah]

if your shooting
power is more important than speed because
because you need a lot of power to shoot even 1 ball

[Andrew Blair]

Originally Posted by Ryan M.

Come on people... both? The whole point of the choice is that, technically, you can't truly have optimal speed and optimal power... Which do you feel is more important to the game?

CVT anyone?

[RogerR]

as Dr. Joe and Matt already posted, Power=speed*torque. thats why i picked power; i can have my cake, and eat it too.

[s_forbes]

If we're talking speed vs torque, I would normally side with the torque. The robot is easier to control and you win pushing battles.

In this game though, there is a rather large unobstructed field. If you have the speed, you can outrun the heavier, pushing robots.

This year I think our team is going to try putting some transmissions in to get the best of both speed and torque. This may be a bad idea, but I think we may be able to pull it off. Even if we are a rookie team...

[TomBot]

Originally Posted by Andrew Blair

CVT anyone?

You must remember these are 130 pound robots running off DC motors, not a car. There is plenty of headroom motor-wise in that kit to push other bots around, at a high rate of speed. (hence, power)

[Paul Copioli]

Joe and Matt beat me to it,but I will chime in anyway.

The choice should be speed or torque. Power is fixed.

Anyone who has attended my presentation (with Ken Patton) knows my canned phrase: "Power is absolute!!!"

A given motor (or set of motors) has a fixed maximum power (velocity * torque), even if you shift. When you shift gears you are actively trading off speed and torque but your power is fixed. The only way to add power is to add motor. For this reason, many teams have six motors (or 4).

I do have a prediction, though: this year teams will get carried away with powerful drive trains that will not make much difference in the game. High shooters unite!!!

-Paul

[Andrew Blair]

Originally Posted by Tom Bottiglieri

You must remember these are 130 pound robots running off DC motors, not a car. There is plenty of headroom motor-wise in that kit to push other bots around, at a high rate of speed. (hence, power)

I wasn't saying that there wasn't enough motor power in the kit to drive with plenty of pushing power and speed (You can, with the Kitgearbox, gear it so it's almost uncontrollable, yet still slips th wheels) but that that ideally, a cvt would provide the optimum speed and torque range. And, it can be done, though I am not brave enough to try...

[Ianworld]

That CVT is the work of the martians. I saw it first two years ago at nationals. Very impressive little transmission but I think they had trouble converting it into something that fit the weight and space restrictions of a FIRST robot, at least a CVT in that format.

But after just voting the Poll is within a percent of being dead even. I think that says something. This game needs both power and speed. Speed will help you beat other teams to scoring positions and perhaps maneauver into scoring positions. Power will let you control the ramp, move robots that are trying to shoot around and probably be better at defense. As always however the best option is both as many people have pointed out. Two speed or more gearboxes will be plentiful this year and give the teams big advantages.

[Salik Syed]

we're gonna go two speeds. but I actually don't think speed will play that much into it... with the offense/ defense switching off i don't think there will be that much flying across one end of the field to the other. there will be most activity near the ends of the field where the robots will push each other.

[Veselin Kolev]

Power or speed?

I'll do... I'll do... both!

Superfast speeds to collect balls, superslow speeds to push robots out of our way. Can be quite useful at moments. But yea, I'm guessing a lot of teams will do 2 speed this year, and get the best of both worlds.

[Matt Torrisi]

both

we had a 3 speed transmission, 3rd top get to the action, 1st to push around. 2nd for everything else

personally i find speed useless, though this years periods system may change my opinion. our defense and power got us to atlanta, so im gonna have to vote for it.

[Not2B]

Dr. Joe got to it first... but I have to chime in anyway...

I want more power than speed, because then I can DECIDE if I want to use the extra power for speed or torque.