We TechnoKats have been shifting gears since '99, always using 2 speeds.
There are many advantages to shifting gears. Some are obvious, while some are subtle. Here are advantages:
- Depending on your wheel or tread traction, you can be in low gear and push other robots around
- If you want to drive fast, you can be in high gear and drive quickly
- You can use your low speed for more precise driving control and positioning
- The high end speed can be faster than you are comfortable with for an entire match, knowing that you can always downshift
- If your motors get hot and the circuit breakers begin to trip, you can always shift to low gear and continue the match
But, there are also some disadvantages:
- A shifter gearbox usually has more efficiency losses compared to a non-shifting gearbox
- More weight is needed in a shifter gearbox compared to a non-shifting gearbox
- It takes more time to design and build a shifting gearbox
Andy B.