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Unread 03-05-2010, 16:43
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JesseK JesseK is offline
Expert Flybot Crasher
FRC #1885 (ILITE)
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Re: What does it take 6WD/8WD to be successful?

I'd like to add that the frame cannot be warped**, regardless of "6WD", "8WD", "Rocking 8WD", "4 traction + 2 omni", etc. This is one of many key elements of any successful drive train. Our team defines "success" as a drive train that moves at a speed we've set forth in our strategies and with the [strategically] desired pushing power while never breaking down.

Oh yea, reliability. The drive train can be creative or simple, yet if the drive train doesn't move then the design of the entire robot is for naught. Not only do teams need testing to find/fix failure points, they need a maintenance plan that quickly exposes any failures that occurred during previous match play. If you have a choice to fix a kicker or your drive train 30 minutes before a match -- choose the drive train.

**Teams that do custom welded frames need to ensure the frame is flat and 4 wheels touch the ground when 4 wheels are supposed to touch the ground. A good aluminum welder or welding mentor is a MUST for this reason. If only 3 wheels are touching the ground when there are supposed to be 4, then the bot will skew one way or the other when put on carpet. Not only does this make a perfect autonomous nearly impossible, it makes driving the robot a bit of a hassle in some situations.
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Last edited by JesseK : 03-05-2010 at 16:50.