Drop-center drivetrains: Why?

[Ian Curtis]

Originally Posted by EricH

It's simpler, unless the game requires pointing in one direction for any length of time (like 2 seconds to unload a game object). The defensive robots love 6WD robots that have omnis on the corners, something about they're easier to knock out of position rotationally.

1276 built a launcher in 2008 with a 6 wheel drive with omnis in the corners. I was sure we would get knocked all over the place trying to launch, but it was never an issue. We would've done it again in 2009 were it not for the slippery floor, and the team disbanding in 2010.

That said, in 2008 there wasn't a lot of incentive to knock robots silly, so we may have just gotten lucky.

As a counterpoint to my own counterpoint, I can't think of many situations where if someone is trying to rotate you, you'd be much better off with the stickier wheels. In 2010 if someone was messing with you, you'd drive off before kicking the ball. In 2007, you were probably entangled in the Rack, so the squirrelyness (technical term) might help you swing around to another Spider. In 2006 if someone was pushing on you, it was probably enough to throw off your aim. Additionally, it cut way down on our distance (though our conveyor to our shooter and shooter wheels were all on one CIM, so this may have been less of an issue for others). In 2005, perhaps it could help you stick your ground for just an extra second, but this came turned out so offensively, I'd rather not be rocking back and forth with a 10 pound tetra 10 feet up in the air.