pic: 1126 4-Speed Transmissions '07 edition

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by Alex Minot

what is the real necessity for 4 speed trannys? i feel like the regular kitbot transmissions work fine for power and speed.

I don't think it is, but 1126 may be able to prove us wrong (and 33 used one to tremendous success in 2004). That being said, who knows if they could have done as well with a 2, or 3 speed.
A single speed can provide adequate power and speed, but typically not both. It could be geared to try and hang with the high speed bots, but it wouldn't have much power. It could be geared to push, but then it could be easily outrun.
A 2-speed can provide a high-power pushing gear, and a quicker speed gear.
A 3-speed can provide that really low power pushing gear, a decent average speed driving gear, and a higher speed "sprinting gear" (that in many situations borders on the edge of control, but is still useful for straight line driving and can be deadly with the right drivers and robot).
The usefullness of the 4th speed is questionable, but 1126 apparently really likes it.
Granted, with a pneumatic mesh shifter (like 33 and 1126 built), it is every bit as easy to build a 4-speed as it is to build a 3-speed. Most 3-speeds in FIRST are the DeWalt transmissions, although we have seen a few 3-speed ball lock transmissions from teams like 222.