[EricH]

Originally Posted by Lowfategg

I do like that setup but I alway did not like the idea of letting the robot rock since it seems unstable to me but it probably fine. Also depending on which way the robot is traveling and weight distribution it could really mess things up. I looked at a nice 6wd setup by team 25 at the NJ regional and in Atlanta. That seemed to drive very nicely. I am guessing how much you drop the center wheels can also make a big difference in driving since I heard from one of my fellow 303 team members that a 6wd drive they tried last year jerked around a lot.

By the way what was team 1114 using on there drive train? Looked like a 6wd all traction wheel setup.

Lil' Lavery says they used 6WD drop center traction. Take a look at his list: 217 (x2), the entire championship alliance (2007), 1114 (2008), 330 (2005).

You don't have to have a lot of drop. The best results come between 1/8 and 3/8. Weight distribution will affect handling; put the weight to one end so it doesn't rock as much. 25 uses coplanar 6 traction; they force their turns.

How much you drop the center wheel will affect handling, but not quite that much.

One thing: Like I say, drop center doesn't mean you will rock automatically. Find 330's matches from 2005-2008, any match. They don't really rock noticeably. Every single one of those robots has 6WD drop center. And only two have ever tipped completely: 2005 went over endwise once, and it was pulled over, and 2006 went down leaving the ramp once or twice. 2007 and 2008 almost went over sideways once each. It isn't all that much rock. A low CG will help keep the robot upright.