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Unread 12-04-2010, 18:34
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Jeffy Jeffy is offline
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AKA: Jeff Gier
FRC #2410 (Metal Mustang Robotics) #159 (Alpine Robotics)
Team Role: College Student
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Rookie Year: 2008
Location: Fort Collins
Posts: 523
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Re: Mecanum or Swerve?

If you want an omnidirectional drivetrain, it appears that swerve would be the best because it gives omnidirectional motion with better traction and without the power loss of mecanum.
However, our meccanum drivetrain has served us very well this year. When we decided we wanted to have omni directional capabilites they were our best option because our team is not capable of building a successful swerve in 2 weeks.
The mecanum does have (atleast) one advantage, swerve has a lag while the pods turn. One other might be weight. If you direct drive 6" mecanums then it should surely be lighter than 4 (or 6) swerve pods, chain, and sterring assemblies. This did not prove to be the case for us this year because we are chain driving 4 8" wheels with 4 toughboxes.

For a game like breakaway where pushing isn't a factor unless your playing a defensive strategy, you really can't go wrong with either.
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Metal Mustang Robotics 2410 (2008-2011)
2008 STL Rookie All-Star
2010 GKC Finalists
2010 OKC Champions
Alpine Robotics 159 (2012-)
2012 CO Finalists

700 miles from home, 2 miles from FRC. Life is good.