Is a shifting transmission really necessary?

[Veselin Kolev]

Here is why I make crazy drive trains.
I am not the person that particularly cares about the game. I make the drive train. It is proven that most drive trains can play every game in the existence of FIRST. One could have easily used a swerve drive every single year. The reason why I make what I make is because I want to learn more. However, there always is the rest of the team to negotiate drive trains with. So, when the team choses a particluar style of power train, (ex: swerve, 6WD, omni, etc...) I agree. And then I go the distance and make it as outrageous and advanced as I can with the time and resources that I have. In my case, I have a fully capable CNC shop that can make a complete drive train in 12 working hours. So what do I do? I design up the craziest thing I can possibly make. For example, if I ever do swerve drive again, its gonna be two speed, with a shifter on each module. Big? Heavy? No. It all depends on how you design it. But why add the extra 2 or 3 pounds, and the time, instead of making 1 speed swerve? Because I want to gain experiance, gain knowledge. Cory, you said that FIRST is not about innovation. It probably isnt. But I'm not one that can settle for making the same drive every year. I take risks, chances, and in the end make drive trains that make people's jaws drop.

Remember, people have a different mindset. I respect 8th year veteran teams that decide to use the kit of parts chassis and drive train for the lack of resources. I would do the same. But if I have the resources, I'm gonna have fun with them. And please, never scorn a team that makes something outrageous, like a 4 speed 6 motor transmission. They learned how to make a 4 speed 6 motor transmission, while you didnt.

On a side note: it is my opinion that learning from what you made is more valuable that winning with what you made.