[feilmeier]

As I read through this post, I notice a number of discrepancies that alter some people's view points.

1) A rolling wheel has the same coefficient of friction as a static wheel, since as the wheel rolls, each part of the wheel stays in static alignment in respect to the piece of ground that it contacts. Therefore, the coefficient of friction provided by rolling, non-slipping wheels is .06.

2) By having a vertical fan pointing downwards, you simulate additional mass. This increases not traction, but weight. The mass of the robot stays the same, but the weight increases.

3) Unless your fans are a lot stronger than that I am imagining, the falloff for most air flow from the fans is quite sharp, reducing the potential for anyone being knocked over, or being hit by flying debris. Remember the inverse square law people.

Thanks for listening to me. As you can see, I just finished a section on friction in my physics class.