Non-CIM drive

[Andy A.]

There isn't any fundamental reason why 4 RS775s or even RS550's couldn't run a drive train. In years past FIRST robots routinely drove with weaker motors then those. I suppose the real question is: what do the CIM's do for a manipulator that you can't do with other motors?

They are, obviously, significantly more powerful then our other current options, and very robust. If you wanted to create a very powerful lifting arm or other mechanism then they aren't bad choices and teams do use them for such things. However, I think it would be hard to make the case for using all four CIM motors on manipulators instead of at least two staying on the drive train. But then again, next year we may be lifting lead bricks instead of inner tubes, so who knows?