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Re: To Shift or Not To Shift, That is the Question
The answer to this question has to do with your strategy and the design of the game.
Last year Our strategy was to defend the opposite side of the rack and to come back to open our ramp / platform at the end of the match.
We were not too concerned with speed because all the scoring was in the middle of the field. That meant that the scorers had to come to us.
Our solution was tank steering, 4 wheel drive, 1 small CIM per wheel, Banebots single speed transmission with 16:1 conversion, and soft 7" pneumatic tires (CoF ~1.3). This gave us a speed of ~ 6 fps and ~ 175 lbs pushing force ((120 lb robot + bumpers + battery) *CoF). We adjusted the pressure in our tires so that the tires would just break free at stall current.
In all of our compitition matches (25) we only met one robot that we could not push (checkmate, team 40).
I'll say it again, don't put in a multi-speed transmission just to have a multi-speed transmission. Design in what you need to be successful in the game using the strategy you chose.
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"We are not now that strength which in old days moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. "- Tennyson, Ulysses
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