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Unread 08-01-2009, 21:44
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daneelshof daneelshof is offline
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Re: pic: What's going on here?

No one really answered this, but crab drive will provide a big advantage, provided anyone implementing has the resources to finish it during the build season.

Skid steer, Ackermann, Tank-style, etc. utilize a difference in torque applied between differing sets of wheels (usually simply left and right side sets) and the static friction and kinetic friction in order to, in a controlled manor, slip the wheels.

Because there is a finite amount of friction, and the playing field has very little, you would want to 'conserve' what little friction there is in order to have the maximum speed and control. Keeping the wheels parallel with each other and the vector of motion parallel to the wheels means none are deliberately made to slip giving the maximum traction (thus maximum acceleration). This is what crab drive accomplishes.

One more reason drag racers don't drive around curves
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