Mecanum or Swerve?

[Tom Line]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

What is of most interest to me:

217: Swerved in 2003. Hasn't done it again. (Nonadrive is the closest they've come)
67: Swerved in 2005. Hasn't gone back. (This was a cool flop bot swerve though)
1114: Swerved in 2004. Hasn't gone back.
33: Swerved in 2005, switched to different drive train halfway through the season. Again in 2009: Maybe?
71: has been using swerve since 2005. (Of particular interest: Hasn't won a Championship since 2004)
111: even I don't know how long.
68: 2008,2009,2010. This year their swerve drive was too much of a technical undertaking for them.
148: Swerved in 2008. Hasn't gone back since.

So many veteran teams have tried swerve and gone back to traditional 6wd/8wd machines. 2009 was not a FULL swerve, only 2 wheels actuated as far as I can recall.

67, 6wd the last couple years. 8wd this year.
1114, 6wd. 8wd this year
33, 6wd.
217, 6wd (excepting this year)

I know correlation does not imply causation but I have a hunch that there is a reason why none of these teams have gone swerving again. It may be a cool thing, and definitely a design every team should have in their arsenal, but in most cases it is not the most efficient design.

One very slight correction. 67's 2008 overdrive bot actually had rear-wheel-only pseudo swerve. If you watch their matches that year, it will suddenly dawn on your how they can turn their corners so quickly.