pic: 6-sided tank drive

[Kevin Leonard]

Originally Posted by evanperryg

If that's true, then 67 is the only example of a separate mechanism being used to break defense. The drop down omnis/chassis shape are drivetrain-related mechanisms.

Drop-down omni wheels and alternate chassis shape are two attributes of a robot only present for the purpose of getting out of t-bone pins.
I guarantee 971's chassis shape wasn't there just to look cool.

254 switched to a sail cloth fabric for their bumpers this season just so they could get out of t-bones easier.

In a game like 2014, 2011, where defensive t-bones are prevalent and extremely effective, these mechanisms can be very important. However, there are some games, like 2012, where defense was unimportant and not prevalent.

It depends on the game, but after this year I see mechanisms like this increasing in popularity immensely.

[PayneTrain]

987 had a drop down ball caster on their robot that tey would use to swing out of pins.

I didn't drive it myself so maybe they could tell you their exact experiences with it, but I thought it was pretty neat since it was probably had the highest simplicity to benefit ratio of a secondary mechanism I've seen in a while.

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by PayneTrain

987 had a drop down ball caster on their robot that tey would use to swing out of pins.

I didn't drive it myself so maybe they could tell you their exact experiences with it, but I thought it was pretty neat since it was probably had the highest simplicity to benefit ratio of a secondary mechanism I've seen in a while.

We copied this in 2013 and 2014.

In 2013 it worked great for us.

In 2014 we were forced to place it on our heavy side and it didn't work as well.

[wyrzykowskij1]

Have you guys thought about the benefits of an equilateral hexagon? 2851 executed this in 2013 and it improved our offensive ability greatly. Now if only our shooter didn't jam

[PayneTrain]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

We copied this in 2013 and 2014.

In 2013 it worked great for us.

In 2014 we were forced to place it on our heavy side and it didn't work as well.

I'll be pointing some team members to this thread (and to the thread where you posted that super neat looking 6 wheel setup)