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Unread 26-01-2011, 21:31
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AKA: Alan Wells
FRC #1350 (Rambots)
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Re: 4 vs 6 wheels (what to choose)

Maneuverability should be expressed as a quantity of degrees of freedom and the respective qualitative measurements for each. Each degree of freedom is either translative or rotational. Translative measurements should be rated based on acceleration and breaking, in terms of the length (distance) and/or time required to get up to maximum speed from a dead stop, and to stop from maximum speed. Rotational axes should be rated based on angular velocity, and minimum turning radius.

Maximum translative speed is irrelevant to maneuverability (in my opinion) since maneuverability is about controllability, not speed. Acceleration, on the other hand, provides information about how much space and time is required to change directions, which is directly related to controllability. Angular velocity is important since a robot that turns too slow wouldn't be able to react quickly while one that turns too fast would be hard to control.

Even with these measurements, there are still so many factors that are unaccounted for. These really need a little more work.
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