[LeelandS]

Robot orientation is generally a game decision. It usually comes down to, is being wide worth the cost of stability. In 2012, with the triple balance being such an important game piece, many teams went with a wide orientation robot to allow the triple balance to be more possible.

In most other games, there is no significant advantage to a wide robot. In fact, in most games, it could be an issue. Several games in recent years (I'm thinking 07, 08, 10 and 11) saw many long robots because the stability was an advantage; it allowed for some robot designs that required forward/backward stability. For example, in 07/11, many robots had elevators. When the elevators went up, it changed the robots center of gravity to up and to a side. On a wide robot, this is dangerous, as the robot will be more easily tilted to one side and subsequently tipped. Likewise, a robot with an arm would be in even more danger. The CoG would be elevated, and set outside the robot's perimeter, which could very easily tip the wide robot over.

In a game like 2008, a similar concept is applied. The two major game designs (a ball elevator and a catapult of some kind) would have been difficult on a wide base. Like in 2007, an elevator makes the CoG elevate and go to a side, especially when those big trackballs are elevated to 6'6" above the ground. On a catapult device, the force of the ball launching could generate a great deal of force to one side of the robot, which could tip up or tip over a wide orientation drive base.

In 2010, the bumps dividing the field were significantly larger than this year's; one foot tall, if I remember correctly. I saw some wide robots do it well (Team 86 doesn't count...), but without a doubt, robots without forward/backward stability were much more prone to tipping.

Most often, there is no need for a wide robot. In 2006, 2009 and 2012, robots with a wide drive system could have some kind intake on the wide side to aid in game piece acquisition. However, in most other years, the decrease in stability is a hindrance. Which is why most years, you see the number of long robots far outnumbers the wide.