Cost of Andymark 6" Mecanum Wheels
 

One of our mentors and just picked up a set of the Andymark 6" HD Mecanum wheels. The cost of the wheels is $104 each. We just re-read the rules on cost (R11 specifically) and we weren't sure if they are legal since they have to be used together as a set. that means their total cost is $416; which is over the $400 max. Please let us know if we can build our bot around these wheels.

Thanks!

Re: Cost of Andymark 6" Mecanum Wheels
 

Here are the wheels in question:
http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-0677.htm
http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-0685.htm

Re: Cost of Andymark 6" Mecanum Wheels
 

Just list their individual costs in your CAW. Each one is a COTS component.

Re: Cost of Andymark 6" Mecanum Wheels
 

They are individual parts. So they can be used together. I would also consider the Vex wheels, as they're significantly cheaper and hold up well. We used them last year, and they worked pretty well (for mecanum wheels in a game that was not designed for them at all).

http://www.vexrobotics.com/mecanum-wheels.html

Re: Cost of Andymark 6" Mecanum Wheels
 

Thanks for the info; and the suggestion on using vex in the future. In this case the mentor already purchased them.

Re: Cost of Andymark 6" Mecanum Wheels
 

The cost can be high - you'll be dropped from some team's pick lists...

Re: Cost of Andymark 6" Mecanum Wheels
 

I assume you mean because of the mecanum and not because of high-cost items on a robot. :rolleyes:

Re: Cost of Andymark 6" Mecanum Wheels
 

Exactly. If your team uses mecanum and cannot perform near a 2052 level of driver performance, then you will suffer the consequences. However, if your driver can perform well with mecanum, it can be a great advantage.

Re: Cost of Andymark 6" Mecanum Wheels
 

What year are you referring to?

Re: Cost of Andymark 6" Mecanum Wheels
 

Try ordering a set of 4, which is $399
http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-0732.htm

Re: Cost of Andymark 6" Mecanum Wheels
 

Ahh, let the Mecanum hate flow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Avn2nT16FA

Re: Cost of Andymark 6" Mecanum Wheels
 

2013 and 2014 were the ones I have in mind. I don't remember 2015 - I have blocked that season from memory.

525 and 2052 are in this video here - zippy little buggers

Re: Cost of Andymark 6" Mecanum Wheels
 

Doesn't look like they do a ton of strafing in those videos. I think they would've been equally or better served by running a tank drive. They are the best mecanum team in the world in my opinion, and the first year they don't use mecanum (2016) they make their first apprlearence to Einstein... coincidence? Possibly, but I think not.

Re: Cost of Andymark 6" Mecanum Wheels
 

check when they are near the feeder station.

Re: Cost of Andymark 6" Mecanum Wheels
 

In the 2013 videos I saw, they saved maybe a second per cycle lining up to the HP feeder when compared to teams who had enough practice to realize they were misaligned and readjusted with tank.

I watched their 2014 videos over lunch today. It seems the biggest increase in agility they used to their advantage was to whip the robot around - going full reverse in a direction, doing a 180, and then continuing forwards in the original direction via a single, smooth maneuver. There were a few times they were pushed around the field, but at least at the Regional level it didn't hurt the overall match. They didn't directly strafe very much, but the increase in agility combined with smart driving and good strategy decisions seemed to help them win their Regionals.

At Worlds, however, particularly in the QF matches, they were definitely pushed around without question. The worst situations, due to the passing nature of that game, were when they went to pass to a partner and defense pushed them INTO that partner. In one case during QF's it was an effective open-field pin against 2 robots. Again, there was little strafing, but the increase in agility helped them bob-and weave in some cases. In the other cases, the defense that was played against them did the bobbing and weaving for them.

I don't mean this isn't an opportunity cost analysis, or what went wrong with 2052's 2014 season. There are obvious reasons to want Mecanum and to not want Mecanum drive, and 2052 seemed to use it pretty well. Versus non-aggressive defense, I think Mecanum will handle fine and can give the teams who have practice with it an edge. Yet on the World stage (which are what the high-profile guys above are alluding to), it will wind up being an exploitable weakness of an alliance.