pic: 2015, Year of swerves?

[Dunngeon]

Originally Posted by asid61

If the COF of the wheels is too low, then you'll be able to push them regardless. If you're running blue nitrile and they're using (insert something with a COF of 1.0 or lower here) and they weigh the same as you, then of course they will move around. There's no magic in an x-formation.
However, there is no way to avoid overcoming the friction of the wheels if the swerve is locked in such a formation. Unless you push with enough force to rotate the modules out of the formation (extremely unlikely), you are basically dealing with the whole weight of the robot times COF. If you can overcome that, then bully for you.
If you push only the corner of the swerve, then it might be easier to push versus a head-on assault.
As an aside, putting the wheels in such a formation makes it very quick to rotate the modules into their next position, making it an ideal rest position as well.

Aren't you doing the exact same thing when t-boning a robot? I honestly think you're putting too much stock in the x formation, it's not as great as you make it out to be. It's potentially a slight bonus, not a primary one.
Edit: Travis beat me to it

Also, if a team is using PID control on the modules it's nearly impossible to rotate the caster with outside forces.

Originally Posted by dradel

Something does get lost in the competition aspect of frc! It is a fact that can't be argued. I take that back... It can be argued for the sake of arguing it.

How many students join a robotics program with their sole intention is to win a competition?? I'd be willing to bet that the number is near zero.

I don't like losing... I joined our team because I wanted to win anything, awards or robots. Robots that look cool but lose ( as in don't play the game well) aren't inspiring to me.