[Chris]

Due to JVN's connection to 229 we were allowed to be the beta testers for the new IFI traction wheels, as you can see from the picture these were mere prototypes that we ran on a bushings just to get the testing done.

Let me just say we were all very amazed. With an aluminum sprocket they are almost exactly half the weight of the wheels that we used during the competition season last year.

We did a lot of testing, driving around and smashing the robot into walls. After being unable to fail a wheel through normal robot usage, we flipped poor denominator on her back and started hitting the wheels with hammers while they were spinning (videos to follow) Lets just say it took someone with more muscle than me to finally dent one of the wheels. After that we drove the robot around with the dented wheel and it still functioned. I was skeptical at first but ended up very impressed, we are currently planning on using these (4 inch ones) during the 2006 season.

Chris C.
Team 229