When we were at the wisconson regional, no need to brag, but our robot with a 6 wheel sticky wheel drive train encountered one or two robots that we couldnt push. What does everyone think about the drivetrains that are doing good.
i.e. omni, 4x4, 6x6, ect
- They pushed us up the ramp. Sideways. And our robot is a six wheel drive with 4" wheels covered in roughtop tread. They even pushed 40 around when their traction plates were down. The traction plates were 16" square covered in tread (can’t remember which kind). Yeah, talk about sick drives.
Omni-directional drives are possibly the worst idea for this year. Well, it was a good idea at the beginning but once you get to competition, it’s not that great.
This game calls for a strong bot. Not a maneuverable bot. 6x6 seems to be the best idea this year. Although, turning is hindered a bit, how maneuverable of a bot do you need to be? This year is all about traction and being able to get up the ramp which is exactly what 6x6 gets you.
Haha thanks a lot Ian. We had built one heck of a strong defensive robot and that led us to the win at SoCal.
We had been able to stop a lot of teams at SoCal, such as 599, 330, and also 968 during a qualifying match, which later went on to become our alliance leader. 968 you guys RAWC.
We had a 2 speed 6WD using the AndyMark 2 speeds. Thank you ANDY BAKER for such a robust gearbox that gave us absolutely no problems during competition. We used the IFI Traction wheels, 6" diameter and 2" wide. After the finals at SoCal, our treads were really worn down, so we’re going to change them at Nats.
Way to tell everyone your secret!
We used our own 2 speed 4x4. Front 2 Omni wheels with rubber rollers, rear 2 mountainboard wheels. We are replacing the mountain board wheels with 8" IFI Traction wheels. Our 2 speeds in the past have been able to push everything we come across and there’s no reason behind why we shouldn’t be able to this year.
It’s not the drivetrain that got it… :rolleyes:
It’s the technique. taps on noggin
lol
But drivetrain sure did help get from point a to point b and push other robots from point a to point b.
968 also had a very clean drivetrain that was very fast and also very torquey when they needed it to be. I heard someone once say:
“They don’t need a clear ramp, they make their own.”
330 also had a very sturdy drivetrain at SoCal and had been able to push around some robots quite a bit.
I wouldn’t go as far as saying that maneuverable drivetrains are a bad idea. 1261’s swerve drive was fast and dangerous in Peachtree and allowed them to be the #1 seed and win the regional, with very few teams able to stop their scoring. Other teams, such as 357, have had similar results with maneuverable drivetrains. It all depends on how you approach the game challenge, namely how fast and from where on the field are you shooting.
As for some impressive drivetrains this year that I have seen:
1261 had a slick swerve drive. 4 wheels each driven by a small CIM, with the front and the back rotated independantly by window motors. During a qualification match, they managed to get from their opponents ramp, all the way across the field, and onto their ramp in about 3 or 4 seconds. They actually CAUGHT AIR when coming off of the opponent’s ramp. Additionally, because of the swerve drive, they could adjust their position on the top of the ramp to easily allow alliance partners to get on the ramp.
- I don’t know why, but we couldn’t push em (and we could push just about everyone! ).
Speaking of drive train… you can’t forget team 61. For the first time they used wheels and oh man the power on that thing is unbelievable. They pushed everyone around at the Florida regonal. Team 190 also had a good drive train. I think team 61 and team 190’s defense was most effective at the Florida regional.
Yeah, you have a point. Since, swerve drives can use rubber wheels they are an exception.
I was thinking more along the lines of mecanum and holonomic drive systems where the only option you get are plastic, or similar low traction material, wheels.
40 compensated for that low traction-ness of their wheels with a traction plate. However, they tried to push and get up the ramp where traction is half of the battle.
I’m not saying they are a bad idea all together. Last year they were a great idea. This year, where defense is much more important than previous years, mecanum/holonomic drives aren’t the best way to go.
I think wide robots robots drive nicely. None of that high current draw and bouncing while turning. A robot that can turn nicely is a good thing to have.
We went with a wide robot this year and it is a decision I regret making. Although, they turn nicely, it’s a lot easier to topple over when driving. You really have to pay attention to CG when designing a wide robot.
With a long robot, there are ways to keep yourself from rocking back and forth while still getting the traction you need.
Rubber Omni-wheels 
well we ran an 8 wheel drive chassis on trucks…guaranteed 6 wheels on ground at all times, even on the ramp.
we also pushed team 40 around when they had their traction plates on we can push anything wherever we want it i can take anyone to taco bell and back we have a mark 2 speed transmission with 2 sky and 2 pneumatic wheels and it makes us like arnold schwartsnendjndjbjbfvbger
o.O
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…Sorry…Whew… That was just a little too outrageous…I’m okay now.
sorry i had starbucks expresso beans im calm now lol
THREE NINE THREE!
They used what looked like go-cart wheels you would see at the fair or something.
I would have to disagree with you. Our robot this year has mecanum wheels and we played defense just as well as anyone. We were pushing 6 wheels and 4 wheels. The rollers on the mecanum drive system are not made of plastic; they are made of urethane. Urethane is more like rubber in that it provides traction. It also allowed us to get onto the ramp. I believe that our choice in drive train was a very good one. I don’t believe that any drive trains out there are any better than the others, but it just comes down to how you play the game. If you would like more information on our drive train, you may find the info you’re looking for here: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43054&page=2&pp=15&highlight=mecanum
753 had the best drivetrain that I think I’ve ever seen. They went with treads that were (I think) 2" wide and made of a very sticky material. It was the most robust design by far at the Sacramento competition and they had no trouble pushing us sideways towards the ramp and then sideways up the ramp.
Fortunately we got 1662 on our alliance, and they were the only team that I saw push 753 around. 1662 had 4 2" wide, 8" diameter IFI traction wheels, and they could push around whoever they wanted. Their robot was a little on the skinny and long side, though, so they hopped quite a bit while turning.
I felt that 753 had too much traction and paid for it in the finals when they started tripping breakers from drawing so much current from its drivetrain. Besides that I that that robot was great and I look forward to see it at nationals.
Our robot this year uses 6 wheels that only has 4 on the gound at a time, which allows smooth turning without sacrificing any traction. I felt our robot could push almost everyone at Sac and SVR, but 1662 proved us wrong. our robot has a wedge on the back and 1662 rode on it, putting them on two wheels and they still pushed us. I felt that 1662 had the most pushing power and traction but suffered from an inability to turn smoothly.