Quote:
Originally Posted by GUI
I think reliability is one of the most important aspects of a drivetrain. If your wheels fall off on the field, you aren't going to be doing much scoring. Another important factor is operator-frendliness (this includes OI design), the chassis and OI need to be designed to work together so the drivers can easily use the drivetrain as it was intended. You can have the coolest, beefiest swerve drive, but if your drivers can't control it, you'll go down like a metaphorical lead blimp.
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Ditto. In addition to this, it NEEDS to be easy to work on. My most recent system that was featured on the 114 bot could have an entire side of the drive base removed with 6 bolts. Each of the 4 corner wheels (the middle was static) could be tensioned simply by turning a bolt.
The key is robustness, speed, and efficiency in a reliable, easy to work on package. I'd say work on one or two of those at a time, starting with reliability. It may be the most genius drive base to ever hit the floor of a FIRST competition, but if it doesn't last, you're doomed.