One speed vs Two speed gearboxes

[asid61]

Originally Posted by Jared Russell

I don't think auto-shifting makes a lot of sense in the world of FRC. The "correct gear" to be in at any time is a function of two things:

1) What am I doing now?
2) What am I going to be doing in the near future?

Only the driver knows #2.

You don't need full autoshifting. Just enough such that your driver doesn't blow the breaker.

Originally Posted by Rauhul Varma

I would beg to differ on all accounts. You can definitely make light and small 2 speed gearboxes. Additionally the amount of air required to shift is extremely small, for example the volume of air required for a single shift on 192's 2014 gearbox was (9/16)^2 * pi * 3/8 = 0.373 in^3 of air, which is nothing as many tanks hold around 35 in^3 of air.

+1, but some caveats. COTS shifters weigh a lot and take up a lot of space. A custom shifter is much easier to work in like 192's design this past year and hang over the wheels, taking up less "valuable space" than a single speed, depending on the chassis.