Super Shifter Gear Ratio's

[apalrd]

The general preference is, in this order:

-Use off-the-shelf components
-High gear should be fast enough to traverse the field quickly, but not too high to prevent running the majority of the match in high gear.
-Low gear should be able to break traction on carpet, given the choice of wheels and motors

Usually, this means a ratio spread of 2.56:1 or 4:1, since that's what AM sells off the shelf.

We usually design around a 15' or 20' sprint distance on a mediocre battery to determine the high gear, and make sure the low gear still meets the design objectives without obsessing over it too much. When thinking about sprint distances, remember to factor in acceleration, not just final velocity. This includes the motor power and any electrical losses.

There is no norm, aside from the 2.56:1 and 4:1 ratio spreads that AM sells. Many teams adjust the final drive ratio (chain or gears between the shifter and wheels) and wheel diameter to match their performance objectives, since it's significantly easier to change a sprocket than to machine a new shifter gear.