3-wheeled robots

[Ziaholic]

But the hitch-swivel in the tongue of the Trailer can rotate, so it does not provide stability for tippiness to the robot. It does provide some types of stability and/or weight to the bot, but you cannot depend on the trailer's wheel-stance to reduce tippiness.

(i.e. if it tips over, it does not induce a torque on the robot, the hitch-swivel simply rotates.)


For reference, see the 0900 (Trailer) and the 0936 (Hitch Swivel) drawings

[The Lucas]

Originally Posted by Meredith Novak

We used some variation of a 3-wheel drivetrain in 2003, 2006, 2007, and 2008. No tips.

Edit: Actually, that is not exactly true. In 2003, our robot screamed around and up the ramp on two wheels to unstack the totes in about 6 seconds during automous. But that was tipping on purpose!

Your 2008 bot tipped at the beginning of each match. Of course that was on purpose because it was an awesome flop bot.

I dont think there will be much tipping this year due to the trailer (counter weight), the low friction surface & wheels, the rules against extensions, and the bumpers being lowered to one inch off floor. In fact I think this year we will have the lowest tipping rate I have seen (even in the 4v0 game of 2001 bots fell off the bridge). It compares to the 2002 game and there was very little tipping in that game despite constant robot interaction.

Take it from someone who has worked on his share of tippy bots (including the 2003 one we nicknamed Tippy the WonderMOEbot with its own theme song ), this isnt a tippy bot year.