Top speed?

[Andy A.]

Originally Posted by Scott Carpman

Good luck trying to turn with a 30 fps drivetrain...

Maybe this is the year that automotive style turning, with a differential, makes sense. It would certainly allow high turning speeds and easier turns for the driver to coordinate.

As to the original question, I think the general consensus is that after about 18 FPS a typical robot becomes very difficult to control and a real pig in a turn. Things like trick wheels, multiple motor drive trains, shifting gear boxes and real sharp PID loops could probably make 25 fps or higher controllable and useful, although at that speed your crossing the field very very quickly. It's an awful lot of design trade offs for that speed. But maybe thats worth it to you. If it's ever been worth it, this would be the year. I'd love to see a robot 'hotrod' that just throws every thing it has into a drive train of epic proportions.

-Andy A.