[mzitz2k]

I have read much about the pushing force of certain drive trains. What is getting me is that I have heard a few individuals in the forums say that the maximum force/amount that a robot can push is its weight times its coefficient of friction. If this is true, why would teams concern themselves with gearboxes and shifting down to insane low gears. I recall Beatty (Team 71) having ungodly amounts of pushing force two years ago in the game with three goals - yet they didn't lift the goals to increase their effective weight. So, I am at a bit of a loss as to why people are then saying the maximum force that a robot can exert or push is its weight times coefficient of friction.

BTW - This would mean that it would be unnecessary to gear our robots beyond a pushing force of about 1.5*130 lbs = 195 lbs. Our teams current design is going to be near a pushing force of 5 times that. Am I missing something?