Quote:
Originally Posted by Jared341
Now start talking about how the rate of energy conversion - power - of a DC motor varies with load/speed and you'll be on the right track.
|
Which is the point of all ramp systems, really. It lets the minibot accelerate to or above the peak power point without struggling against the pesky foe gravity. Or so I imagine your thinking goes.
I think there's another contributing factor, however. Without gravity reducing your acceleration, the minibot comes up to speed much more quickly and spends much less time in the low-speed/high-torque operating area that makes it more likely you'll exceed your available traction and spin out. You also have more downforce from the minibot weight to increase your available traction. And you ultimately have control over your actual traction surface. I don't think I noticed any teams doing it, but you could design your ramp with a very thin coating of grippy material. That would give you the chance to really maximize your traction.
Basically, I think ramps are faster mostly because the minibot accelerates to operating speed faster and more efficiently thanks to no gravity and less wheel slippage.