Re: Vex tank tread crab drive
 

Why treads though. Yeah, the vex treads don't produce that much traction (in those lengths anyway), but they still produce more than the small wheels do. The treads produce additional scrub, are heavier (and therefore recquire more torque from the steering motors) and are more inefficient than wheels would be.
Especially if we think about using a similar design in FRC terms, if you wanted large amount of traction in a swerve drive, you would use traction wheels. While they add scrub, they are still lighter, simpler, smaller, and are more efficient than treads would be.
This drivetrain is really cool, but I don't think the treads are really a step in the right direction. While it might work, from an engineering perspective, wheels should be the right choice.

Re: Vex tank tread crab drive
 

basicaly I made it with wheels and got bored with that so i replaced them with treads just because it looks cooler. here is my original drivetrain:
http://pic1.picturetrail.com/VOL1182.../196607893.jpg
http://pic1.picturetrail.com/VOL1182.../196607883.jpg

Re: Vex tank tread crab drive
 

ive always been so interested in crab drive but ive never had a chance to learn how to build or use it on an frc bot. as soon as i get my hands on a vex kit ill build something like this.

Re: Vex tank tread crab drive
 

What's the structure above the RC?

Re: Vex tank tread crab drive
 

thats a rotating/pivioting arm for picking up tetras. heres a better picture: http://pic1.picturetrail.com/VOL1182.../196746562.jpg

Re: Vex tank tread crab drive
 

alright here is a video of it in action.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...58384631&hl=en