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Unread 24-08-2008, 23:40
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Billfred Billfred is offline
...and you can't! teach! that!
FRC #5402 (Iron Kings); no team (AndyMark)
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Re: Treads, Tracks, Tank system Talk/Help

Quote:
Originally Posted by UndergroundVoid View Post
But does that really give a reason to tear an idea apart even if it were to be used for a competition purpose or personal project.
Tear apart? No. However, Adam is right; put a thread in Technical Discussion without some frame of reference to the contrary, and people will default to thinking about FRC applications.

Of the teams I've worked with, only one has ever attempted treads; that would be 1293 in 2007, the first season I was not active with them. Their entry that year, Atlas, had some limitations. Their approach was solid, with the exception of their gearbox mount; the BaneBots gearboxes they used were mounted in the front of the robot using an open-front frame for their grabber. This left their setup particularly exposed to hits, and left them scrambling to move in their last match where they partnered with us. Some might argue it to be too solid; each of their drivetrain pods weighed over ten pounds. (That thread actually has a lot of tread lessons learned; I'll see if I can get a member of the team to offer any further insights here.)

You may also want to read Chris Hibner's paper on drivetrains. Much of it carries over from wheels to treads.

For the side talk about the appropriateness of treads, I say this: I care about whether your robot can successfully execute a strategy that complements our own. Wheels, treads, kiwi, swerve, it doesn't matter; all that matters is that I can rely upon you to execute.

Quote:
Originally Posted by UndergroundVoid
But isn't it unfair for a person to ask a question and get answers that you didn't ask for. i expected help would bring the essence of the word to my questions and not some little post going off on how treads are bad, wheels are good. If i ask what color the sky was and they said 4 or something i would be irritated like i am now.
If you ask me a question about how to step on a car's gas pedal, I would feel obligated to make sure you were aware of how to step on the brake as well. The ability to relay both sides of an issue is important in any regard.
__________________
William "Billfred" Leverette - Gamecock/Jessica Boucher victim/Marketing & Sales Specialist at AndyMark

2004-2006: FRC 1293 (D5 Robotics) - Student, Mentor, Coach
2007-2009: FRC 1618 (Capital Robotics) - Mentor, Coach
2009-2013: FRC 2815 (Los Pollos Locos) - Mentor, Coach - Palmetto '09, Peachtree '11, Palmetto '11, Palmetto '12
2010: FRC 1398 (Keenan Robo-Raiders) - Mentor - Palmetto '10
2014-2016: FRC 4901 (Garnet Squadron) - Co-Founder and Head Bot Coach - Orlando '14, SCRIW '16
2017-: FRC 5402 (Iron Kings) - Mentor

94 events (more than will fit in a ChiefDelphi signature), 14 seasons, over 61,000 miles, and still on a mission from Bob.

Rule #1: Do not die. Rule #2: Be respectful. Rule #3: Be safe. Rule #4: Follow the handbook.

Last edited by Billfred : 24-08-2008 at 23:43.