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Unread 07-06-2016, 09:10
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Re: Mecanum wheels on the front, regular wheels on the back

Quote:
Originally Posted by GeeTwo View Post
This design is not going to strafe, no matter how you turn the wheels, barring some unusual anisotropic coefficients of friction.

Placed on an approximately square base, this design would be marginally better at turning and marginally worse at driving directly forward than using omnis in the rear and using tank drive (that is, linking the front and rear wheels on each side).

Without strafe capability, I don't see an advantage that justifies the two extra drive trains.
I do agree that this chassis should be driven as tank drive - and that it can not strafe. The tank drive can (should) use one gearbox per side and as always all wheels should be driven.

I have not tried it, but I would imagine it would behave better than traction and omni. Assuming the same rubber on omni and mecanum, it should have comparable COF and perform nearly identical forward, backwards. Turning should be better with mecanum - but more importantly, the resistance to being spun by a defender should be much better. In the past, we did not try this configuration given the size and weight (and cost) difference between omni and mecanum. Now, with the modern VEX mecanum, I believe it is worth another look.
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