[IKE]

I have no robot experience with tank treads, but most tractors used a single powersource into a differential with turning brakes. This is common on wheeled tractors too (they are often called plow brakes). Using the differential and side brakes essentially allows for torque vectoring and keeping from a stall condition. A couple of teams did this style of drive system this year to help with Car-style steering robots. This probably won't help with the side traction hopping, but it may help keep the current loads lower.