I've seen robots with treads perform fantastically (team 365 is a great example)
My whole purpose is to combine the high points of treads and wheels, while minimizing the negative qualities of both.
Treads would make a robot much harder to push or move, simply becuase of the friction spread over the surface area.
Treads also bear the weight of the robot over a larger area, making less stress on the drive.
As for 2 auger screws, think about it: they'd only be able to go forwards and backwards. They'd need 4, and thats the same as wheels (
). duhh.
Getting back to the subject of treads versus wheels, I think that is you want a muscle robot, you'll probably want treads. I compare such robots to bulldozers: they may be slower, but they don't stop!
The advantage of wheels is that they are much faster, but they are also more vulnerable to being shoved across the room, are prone to lack of traction, and bear the weight of the robot on 4 smaller surfaces.
Having 4 wheel drive conpensates for some problems, but |||nothing||| compares with some nice solid treads.
Anyone beg to differ? Also, how have teasm improved wheel traction in the past.
And how about them pnuematic wheels (the ones w/ air inside them) Would'nt robots bounce around with them on??
Hmmm..
--Ben Mitchell