2008 Game- Overdrive

[artdutra04]

Originally Posted by Rex114

Also, contrary to what others have posted about this game reducing the "Drive train arms race" with its lack of defense, I believe it just furthers it. I see no room for innovation in the drivetrain, I don't even see why a 2 speed would be needed. All you need is a high speed, and the more motors in that drivetrain, the better as far as this game is concerned. I remeber seeing drivetrains like 1114's, Simbotics, back in 2004, which had a swivel drive where each individual swivel module was capable of being pnuematically retracted 6 inches upward in order to climb the steps on the field. For the fourth year now, we have an essentially completely flat surface, where teams can just use the kitbot, or even further perfect their 6 wheel design (ie. the "West Coast Drive"), or just rehash any number of other drivetrains used the past 3 years. Just like in the programming aspect of this game, I see no advantage to innovation in the drive systems this year.

The team you are referring to from the 2004 season was Wildstang (111); here's a video of their robot:

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...19&postcount=1

Originally Posted by Drwurm

A whole summer project of a 4 speed transmission base. It was supposed to be a super edition west coast drive. USE-LESS.

No, it was not.

Every team takes a risk when they prototype ideas over the summer, with the expectation that it may not be possible to use that idea during the next build season. While testing an idea that could make it's way onto a future robot is a clear benefit of summer prototyping, the other clear benefit is the knowledge learned along the way.

Also, what's to say that the opportunity to use that transmission in future robots will not present itself next (2009) FRC season? By prototyping a 4-speed transmission over the summer, you've just added yet another mechanism to your team's arsenal of knowledge for the future.