Another chapter to the 6WD vs. Mecanum debate

[JVN]

How much power-loss is there strafing sideways with a "normal" mecanum drivetrain?
Specifically -- how much current draw is there on a single motor?
How fast can you gear up the drivetrain before that "sideways" current draw becomes undesirable?
If you gear to a safe speed (without undesirable current draw), will you be making a tradeoff on forward/backward speed (i.e. would you have geared faster otherwise?)

In a game which emphasizes full field sprints, I think the "safe" gearing for a mecanum is just too slow -- but that is just my opinion... (one which is founded on calculations and engineering analysis, plus some anecdotal evidence on the side... yes, 148 build a mecanum drive this fall, and we hated it).

If you're a team debating between 6WD or mecanum my opinion is you should go 6WD. I promise you won't regret it.

However -- The most important thing is that whatever you do, you get it built quickly, get your mechanism on it, and start testing and improving as soon as possible! The more testing and driver practice you get the happier you'll be.

-John