Drive train and gearboxes

[Rick TYler]

We are a "have not" team. We have $9,000 this year, which is the most in our team's three years. The advice you get from most of the $50,000 teams just won't be relevant to you. Here's my realistic advice for a rookie team with really tight finances:

1. Don't sweat the 4WD and 6WD and holonomic and every other kind of drive train arguments. I'd build what we did last year: use the kitbot chassis, mount the transmissions and motors near the center, and drive two of the 8-inch Skyway wheels that came in the kit with short chains. Put two hardware store casters (non-swiveling) on the front. Put two more non-swiveling casters on the rear. Set the casterheights so that either the front or rear just barely touches the floor. You want the weight off one of the sets of casters just enough to make it barely touch. You will be fast, maneuverable and reliable. You won't win pushing matches, and won't be able to get up on the ramp. It's a straight-forward design that will serve you well, and won't break.

2. The KOP transmission works fine with two CIMs. We ran ours like that during testing last year, and only added the other two when we were underweight. Our top speed didn't change, and since we enthusiastically avoided contact, we are pretty sure the extra two motors didn't really make much difference.

3. Avoid contact during your matches. Your first-year bot will have enough problems without worrying about making a bullet-proof chassis. You will get more recognition by showing up with a working robot for each match than by smacking other 'bots around. Finishing every match while contributing to your alliance is a good realistic goal for a rookie team.

4. Look for an experienced team in your area and ask them for help. I can't tell you how many teams have helped us over the last two years. As a third-year team, we are just now experienced enough (and have a couple or three tubs of old parts) that we could help another local team.

5. Use all the KOP parts you can. Don't get obsessed with high-tech solutions to your problems. Pick one function and do it really well, and remember that baltic birch plywood can be used in a lot of places that others will use Lexan or aluminum, and it can cost a LOT less.

Most of all, keep reading Chief Delphi and working on your robot.