[Wayne TenBrink]

Instead of a single "universal/standard drive base" for all occasions, why not develop your own "drive base system" - along the lines of the Ansy Mark "C-Base" chassis in the KoP but better? The kit frame can be configured for long or wide chassis, 4WD or 6WD, different wheel size & type, etc. Regardless of the final configuration, it uses standardized frame rails & mounting hardware, motor mounts, axles, chain tensioning, etc.

We have been developing our own drive base "system" over the past few years. It doesn't look anything like the kit chassis, but it includes components that accomplish the same basic functions - and more. It has "standardized" structural elements, structural element fasteners, axles, gearbox mounts, chain tensioners & idlers, etc. It can be adapted for wide or long, various wheel arrangements (size & quantity), different ground clearance, "U" or rectangle (as viewed from above), etc. In the fall, we design and prototype improvemed components. After kickoff, we figure out what configuration we need for the game, lay out the detailed plan, and design new components if needed. It still requires some thought and takes time to build. However, it is faster than starting from scratch and frees up brain cells to concentrate on the manipulator. The parts are all based on proven concepts, and we have a lot more flexibility than we would with the kit chassis. We are usually cutting chips by the end of the first week and driving by the third week - long before the manipulator is done. So far, none of the components have been identical from year to year, but the improvements are becoming more "evolutionary" than they are "revolutionary".

There is nothing particularly special or ingenious about our "system". It is the product of our teams experience and efforts, and it works for us. Over time, I think most teams develop their own approach to the various bits of drive base hardware. I encourage you to approach your drive base design as a collection of "universal/standard components" that can be mixed, matched, and modified as needed, rather than a "universal/standard" assembly.