Tribot swerve

[g_sawchuk]

Well, based on the video, the tribot on swerve allows some very advanced maneuvering that could easily get around defense any day. However, defense wise I feel that a tribot would be a push over. Also, it does minimize the amount of space for a shooter, intake, etc. I could see this totally being awesome for a team like 1717 in the 2012 game, Rebound Rumble. With a 3 sided intake and an on top, rotatable shooter I think it would have been even better then it already was (which in my opinion is saying something). This year with a large game piece I could see it being slightly impractical, but in other seasons with smaller game pieces it could work. Teams would also need to focus on weight because an unbalanced weight on a tribot would definitely doom it when hit right. However, super cool video and thanks for sharing!

[Blackphantom91]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHe4MU3x3As I think there is always advantages to different types of drive trains each year. It's just a matter of getting it to work. Your swerve iteration is coming along very well though.

[pntbll1313]

When a 3 wheel drive robot locks up in a pushing match isn't a large amount of the force on the single back wheel? In which case it could have significantly less pushing power than a 4 wheel swerve driven with the same number of CIMs per wheel. (I realize swerve robots generally don't need to get into pushing matches, just curious as to how it would work)

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by GrifBot

Well, based on the video, the tribot on swerve allows some very advanced maneuvering that could easily get around defense any day.

In what way is that different from a four-wheel swerve?

Originally Posted by GrifBot

However, defense wise I feel that a tribot would be a push over.

Why?

[g_sawchuk]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

In what way is that different from a four-wheel swerve?


Why?

Well, depending on how you're angled, it would be ideal to have one wheel closer to the front for steering/direction instead of two, with the back two acting as speed and stability. With one wheel upfront you should be able to turn smoother/faster.
Well, having a 3 sided bot would expose more area for a defensive bot/offensive bot to hit the bot in the corner to knock a shot off target as a triangle is essentially based off of 3 corners, not 4 corners with "flat space" in between that would do very little when hit. In short, the tribot is more exposed when it comes to being hit effectively.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by GrifBot

Well, depending on how you're angled, it would be ideal to have one wheel closer to the front for steering/direction instead of two, with the back two acting as speed and stability. With one wheel upfront you should be able to turn smoother/faster.
Well, having a 3 sided bot would expose more area for a defensive bot/offensive bot to hit the bot in the corner to knock a shot off target as a triangle is essentially based off of 3 corners, not 4 corners with "flat space" in between that would do very little when hit. In short, the tribot is more exposed when it comes to being hit effectively.

Who said number of sides was dependent on number of wheels?

[g_sawchuk]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

Who said number of sides was dependent on number of wheels?

True. I was just basing it off of the fact that this one had 3.

[frasnow]

Neat design.

Just be careful your shape doesn't fit into one of the game elements like when Rosie stuffed Thrust into the goal in 2010.

[BBray_T1296]

Originally Posted by frasnow

Neat design.

Just be careful your shape doesn't fit into one of the game elements like when Rosie stuffed Thrust into the goal in 2010.

I know this is off topic, but look in the thread in the quote, watch the video first, then proceed to read the comments of the thread talk about how aggressive and uncalled-for the defense was, then fast forward to this year. Kinda funny I must say

[JohnSchneider]

Just remember. More 3 wheel swerve robots have won worlds than mechanum.

[g_sawchuk]

Originally Posted by JohnSchneider

Just remember. More 3 wheel swerve robots have won worlds than mechanum.

Because that means a lot.

[asid61]

Originally Posted by JohnSchneider

Just remember. More 3 wheel swerve robots have won worlds than mechanum.

IMO, a well-designed swerve drive will beat a well-designed mecanum drive. However, mecanum wheels have only been widely available for a few years in the FIRST community, so you have to give them some time.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by asid61

IMO, a well-designed swerve drive will beat a well-designed mecanum drive. However, mecanum wheels have only been widely available for a few years in the FIRST community, so you have to give them some time.

AndyMark first introduced their mecanum wheels in 2006, iirc. It's been quite a bit longer than a "few years" at this point. Granted, the first robot with steered wheel modules to win a championship was 67 in 2005, iirc.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

AndyMark first introduced their mecanum wheels in 2006, iirc. It's been quite a bit longer than a "few years" at this point. Granted, the first robot with steered wheel modules to win a championship was 67 in 2005, iirc.

Stang 03? (I don't recall)

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by asid61

IMO, a well-designed swerve drive will beat a well-designed mecanum drive. However, mecanum wheels have only been widely available for a few years in the FIRST community, so you have to give them some time.

I know first-hand that mecanum drives go back to at least 2006 (357--Royal Assault--ran them to the Florida Regional finals). I know AndyMark had them available for the 2008 season (1293 used parts from them). That's seven years (okay, six if you want to discount Lunacy) of development for the masses. Swerve was around no later than 2000 (per this CD-Media picture of Chief Delphi (as in FRC 47) that year), maybe a couple years prior? With the raw number of teams now compared to then, I have to think mecanum has matured as an option by now.

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

Stang 03? (I don't recall)

That's the first swerve I can think of that won it all. Can any old-timers go further back with a winner?