Hey all-
I had an interesting Idea, and I was wondering if it would be possible, or even plausible. I'm in the process of designing an off-season drive train, and I decided to give it a little more push.

So the drive train would have a 2 speed, 2 small CIM gearbox, outputting at slow speed of 6.9 fps (the bot's ground speed). Now is where my idea comes in. On the side, in a seperate mechanism from the normal gearbox, is a Large CIM on each side of the drive train. This large CIM has a sprocket reduction, that makes it's output speed equal to that of the shaft on the wheel (at slow speed). Now at the end of this sprocket reduction would be a dog-shifter type mechanism, which engages or dis-engages the large CIM.

So here's how it would be used during a match: You drive around normally for a while, using only the normal gearbox. then you get in a pushing match, and you hit a button on the OI. a pneumatic fires, and engages the large CIM to your drive train. Your previously 4 motor drive train now turns into a massively tourqued 6 motor drive train.

So am I just spewing a random idea that's not possible? Or am I actually on to something?

(and by the way, I have in no means copy protected this idea, so if it works, have at using it.)