Tracks or Wheels?

[Parker]

Originally Posted by pfreivald

Last year we 'simply used' (hah!) a four-wheeled system with two of the IFI traction wheels chained to the kitbot transmission -- it worked great at school on the gym floor, but when we went to the Rochester Rally (thanks again, 1511! You rock!) we found that we had so much traction we couldn't turn, and had to do a big re-design.

I can imagine that tracks could easily experience a similar problem.

Patrick Freivald -- Team 1551

My team had the same problem our rookie year. It is because the robot was longer than it was wide, so the motors didn't have the torque to turn the bot. It will be even harder to do with treads because of the increased traction.


A poll would be nice here.

[cbale2000]

I think there may still be a misperception about treads here, last year we used treads and we were probably one of the most agile robots on the playing field! Not all track systems are bad, you just have to figure out how to optimize them to make them functional, just about anything you can do with a wheel design you can do with a track design (With the exception of Omniwheels), plus get the added traction and pushing power.



Oh, and sorry Gabe but no Omnitracks for us. We're trying to keep as close to the standard track system as possible.

[cbale2000]

Well it would seem one of our team members has gone and spoiled the suprise for ya, if you want to see our prototype drive system for 2007, click the following link:

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/26312

[Cowmankoza]

You can use self guiding timing belts, in which the belt has a ridge going down the center, granted you need to purchase or make pullies that have a channel for the ridge to ride on, this will prevent side to side slipping of the tread (p.s. remember to lower the middle so you can turn)

[FunkyRatDemon]

Originally Posted by Gabe

Omnitreads just has to be the answer!

Okay, seriously, my vote goes with wheels over tracks for this year's competition. Every team that I have seen with a tracked robot ( except 753 in 2004...) have a very difficult time turning from all the lateral friction. Wheels are easy to set up and easy to design around, which is why we'll be going that way this year.

We always use tracks (except our 1st year). Outback Manufacturing does a great job helping us. Tracks FTW