Are we still using only 256 unique PWM steps?

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by Michael Hill

I haven't taken apart a Victor, but it looks like there are just a bunch of LM317s in there. It looks like there's a large capacitor.

The devices you think are 317's are in fact IRL3103 Power MOSFETs in the Victor. As Eric pointed out the large cap on both the Victor and the Jag are to smooth power supply. 317s can't handle brake mode, make a minimum of 1.25 volts output when the control input is grounded, can't control 40 amps each and require a large diode for reverse polarity protection.
As to the resolution, most teams don't use the ~120 bits (accounting for the deadband and only one direction) as it is and most don't even calibrate the controllers.