[EricH]

Originally Posted by Jonathan Norris

But I am still puzzled by the perceived advantages of them... The first myth I can see is the idea that they are more maneuverable than a basic tank or 6-wheel drive. The fact is that the majority of the successful robots using a mecanum or holonomic drive systems all have low COG. ... I would argue they are far more controllable and more effective (traction!). ... I have heard teams argue that these systems allow them to be more maneuverable and therefore better offensively. ...

Maybe my reasoning is totally off base here... feel free to prove me wrong. But I feel that the advantages are not there to use one of these systems for one of the games, thou I would like to prototype one myself.

Have you ever seen a 6-wheel bot go sideways? That, in a nutshell, is the advantage of a mecanum or holonomic system. Easier realigning after someone knocks you offcourse, sliding around a defending robot, and outswerving a 6-wheel are some of the advantages here. And, there are ways of making them have better traction. Roller angles and treading can have an effect.

Could you explain how the CG has affects on driving a "normal" drivetrain as compared to an "omni" one, other than that a slight tip can throw off one wheel?