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Weight it down
When you get your drive train built, you can only see if it really works if you do these three things:
1. Attach weights to it so that it weighs close to 130 pounds (if this is what the maximum weight is next year). We ususlly use cable ties or duct tape to tie down a box of spare bolts or some steel plates to the drive train frame.
If you drive your new drive train around without weighing it down, then you will get a false sense of security that it works just fine. Weighing it down will expose it to what really will happen once you get the rest of your bot finished.
2. Drive it on the playing surface that we will be competing on. I assume that this will be carpet next year, since the past 11 years has been carpet... but FIRST may change this. A 130 pound robot drives differently on carpet than it does on concrete, that's for sure.
3. Like DJ said above... break it. Don't maliciously damage the robot, but put it through at "road and track" test early. Try to drive it like you would during a match in the elimination rounds. Breaking your robot early in the build cycle will make you fix your weak links and give you more experience for what needs to have preventive maintenence.
Andy B.
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