Friction drives

[newbee]

I'm looking for clarification. If I use a friction wheel to drive the surface of wheels provided in the kit, there is a possibility that the friction wheels will somehow change the characteristics of the regulite wheels themselves. Is this grounds for disqualification?

[Woody1458]

So, if I understand you want to put a traction wheel on top of a rover wheel in order to power it, making the shape of an 8. I would not consider this to be illegal. But I am perplexed as to why would do this over attaching a chain.

[GBIT]

One of the rules in the manual states that only the wheel can contact the floor and that wheel needs to be as close to "out of the box condition as possible". As long as the high traction wheel doesnt touch the floor, i think your ok. A little more detail in your intent would help....

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by newbee

I'm looking for clarification. If I use a friction wheel to drive the surface of wheels provided in the kit, there is a possibility that the friction wheels will somehow change the characteristics of the regulite wheels themselves. Is this grounds for disqualification?

I quote part of <R06>:

The surface tread of the ROVER WHEELS may not be modified except
through normal wear-and-tear. Specifically, the addition of cleats, studs, carved treads,
alterations to the wheel profile, high-traction surface treatments, adhesive coatings, abrasive
materials, and/or other attachments are prohibited. The intent of this rule is that the ROVER
WHEELS be used in as close to their “out of the box” condition as possible, to provide the
intended low-friction dynamic performance during the game

There's no definite answer on this one--if your drive mechanism left residue or exceptional wear on the wheels that altered its characteristics appreciably, particularly towards the direction of a higher coefficient of friction, other teams would definitely have grounds to approach the inspectors about it. Don't leave yourself open to it--test it, have the data ready if anyone asks, and be ready to switch to something else if it doesn't pan out for you.

[Ian Curtis]

Originally Posted by newbee

I'm looking for clarification. If I use a friction wheel to drive the surface of wheels provided in the kit, there is a possibility that the friction wheels will somehow change the characteristics of the regulite wheels themselves. Is this grounds for disqualification?

I would imagine the ruling would depend on the sort of "friction wheel" you are using. If this wheel was made of sand paper (or some other really rough surface), I'd bet all eight of our orbit balls that the inspector would have a problem with it.

[colin340]

the only way i could see this giving you more traction is if the wheels that that gave power to the kit wheel were to wear so that rubber/urethane dust would rub on to the wheels and floor thus acting like sand on train tracks