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CVT's -- nice idea, but unproven benefits...
While I love the idea of continuously variable transmissions, in practice, I have never seen one that is robust enough, cheap enough and small enough to make sense on a FIRST robot.
I can get behind a shifting. I MAY even get behind shifting on the fly (though I am clearly on the fence about that cost/benefit ratio given the fact that you can make a fairly simple 2 speed shifter from the drill transmissions as long as you are willing to write a bit of shifting code and can live without shift on the fly). I could perhaps be convinced (though I doubt it) that a 3 speed transmission could be a net benefit.
BUT... I really question whether a CVT is going to buy you more than it costs (in terms of power savings, complexity of design, engineering effort, etc.)
But... ...it is a free competition... ...knock yourself out.
Joe J.
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