[Ken Leung]

By shifting to a lower gear ratio, you add more torque to your robot. Say the Drill motors, if you only have 2 drill motors, by shifting you could double the torque from them. Playing against another robot with 2 drill that doesn't shift gear into a lower gear ratio, you would be able to push them around if your robot have good enough traction.

However, assuming your two robot have equal traction, if the opponent doesn't shift gears, but have 4 motors instead of two, then it have enough motor power to push as strong as you do, while not having to reduce speed at all.

Its all a very tricky balance between traction, torque, and motor power. You pretty much got to have more of everything if you want to put push your opponent.

Just look at some of the major players last year. Team 308 and 60 both lift up 2 goals completely off the ground to get major traction. 71 had the walkers with major traction and pushing force, and they grab three goals at the same time making it hard for some teams to grab two goals at once. Other teams like technokat 45, Hot bot 67, and many others had a shifter too.

But of course, traction and torque wasn't everything. Look at some of the major ball robots, like 173, 175, 157 (I think aztech have this number), 121, and others. They had a fast robot that could get lots of balls quickly, and were able to make those balls count. Unfortunately, against strong pushers, goals they grab on would to eventually be pushed back.

But then again, it was very important to have a fast robot too. Kingman (60) had a really high speed a high gear, and they were able to get to the goals before others, gaining control. Same thing with Gila Monster's (64) robot. They had a very smooth swerve drive with 4 motors, and they dominated the field by driving around smoothly quickly putting their robot in use when needed.

It's always a question on strategy... Last year, it ended up the strongest pushers could dominate the game easier than others.