Quote:
Originally Posted by AdamHeard
So, since it takes x amount more force to turn, It's that much harder for other teams to turn you?
That makes a great deal of sense actually. Taking a problem that has plagued inexperienced teams and using it (with precise calculations I'm guessing) to your advantage.
|
Absolutely. Having great precision allows maximum efficiency output from the time the current is applied through the circuit box to the time the wheels hit the floor. But as Bharat said, modularity is also key.
If you get a chance, stop by our pits in Galileo and see, but our entire motor setup is rather flexible. With multiple input shafts on each side, we can shift the motor plates to any of multiple locations depending on where we want the weight and placement to be. This year with our mast in the front it was beneficial to have more weight towards the back and so our mounting is reflective of that. Each of the plates has a spot for the servo brakes and only one brake needs to be inserted per side to effectively lock down the entire drive train.
Because our transmissions are modular as well, and rather small in size, it allows for easy changes in gearing depending on what the game calls for--they simply "pop in and out".
Finally, from the time we first started using gear driven drive trains we've learned from our mistakes and improved on future bases. Each year its modified as we see fit, but the underlying principles for each remain the same--simplicity, simplicity, simplicity.