FRC T-bone-ing and Hexagonal drive

[first_newbie]

Is T-bone-ing just when two robot clash head to head? Also what are the benefits of a hexagonal drive train?

[MrForbes]

T boning is when the front of one robot hits the side of another robot.

Hexagon drive train lets you build a robot without as severe of "corners", might be easier to get around other robots or obstructions.

[jijiglobe]

T-Boning is when one robot "crashes" into the side of another robot. It's one of the most popular and easy ways to play defense because when you ram into the side of another robot and they try to drive forward, they're going to go in circles because the side of their robot that you are driving against can't move. This is furthermore effective because it technically does not count as pinning a robot. The advantage of a hexagonal drive train is that you cannot T-bone them because they don't really have a flat side to push against.

[first_newbie]

Are there any technical advantages of a hexagonal drive?

[Ari423]

Originally Posted by first_newbie

Are there any technical advantages of a hexagonal drive?

A hexagonal robot (if done correctly) is less susceptible to T-bone-ing in most cases. Other than that, not really. I usually find that the benefits don't outweigh the consequences. They are more complicated to design and build than a traditional rectangular bot, so you may want to choose to stick with a more basic drivetrain and work on making a kick @$$ manipulator. That's up to your team based on your team's resources and how your team wants to play the game.

P.S. If you are going to make a odd-sided drive, make a nonagon. 100% of nonagonal robots have won Einstein.

EDIT - I didn't know CD automatically sensors "curse words"

[jijiglobe]

One solution to the T-boning problem that is much simpler to implement is to make your bumpers out of different types of fabric. Many teams use a high friction cloth (such as emery cloth) for their front and back bumpers so that they can T-bone other teams, while using low friction cloth (such as sail cloth) for their side bumpers. so that other teams have difficulty T-boning them.

EDIT: Emery cloth is way too abrasive to be used on bumpers

[first_newbie]

What are the consequences of a hexagonal drive then? Can you send me a picture of the nonogonal robot?

[first_newbie]

Wait is the nonogonal robot 148's tumbleweed?

[Hallry]

Originally Posted by first_newbie

Wait is the nonogonal robot 148's tumbleweed?

Yes it was.

[first_newbie]

Are hexagonal drive train any better at turning?

[pmangels17]

Originally Posted by first_newbie

Are hexagonal drive train any better at turning?

It's...a lot more complicated than that. A drivetrain's ability to turn (assuming a skid steer AKA tank drive) is based upon the geometry of the wheels and how they contact the floor.

See this guide for a good summary of how different drivetrains behave in different scenarios: http://www.simbotics.org/files/pdf/drivetraindesign.pdf
You might look under the Applying Principles section for bits about wheelbase and track width and stuff like that to answer your question, but the presentation as a whole is fairly comprehensive and very useful to someone just getting into drivetrain design (which I presume you are interested in) and exploring beyond the buy-a-kitbot-and-put-it-together level of mechanical and physical analysis.

[jkelleyrtp]

Originally Posted by jijiglobe

One solution to the T-boning problem that is much simpler to implement is to make your bumpers out of different types of fabric. Many teams use a high friction cloth (such as emery cloth) for their front and back bumpers so that they can T-bone other teams, while using low friction cloth (such as sail cloth) for their side bumpers. so that other teams have difficulty T-boning them.

That sounds like such a dirty way to play and I love it. Kinda like pine-tarring in baseball, but for robots.

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by jijiglobe

Many teams use a high friction cloth (such as emery cloth) for their front and back bumpers so that they can T-bone other teams, while using low friction cloth (such as sail cloth) for their side bumpers. so that other teams have difficulty T-boning them.

Citation Needed

[mrnoble]

Originally Posted by Joe Ross

Citation Needed

Agreed. Emery cloth? That would be... surprising if that passed inspection.

[Darkseer54]

Originally Posted by mrnoble

Agreed. Emery cloth? That would be... surprising if that passed inspection.

I remember discussion about using polyurethane coated cordura, like what is listed here, but I don't know if anyone has actually used it in competition yet.