Robots 102: Drive Trains

Different robots vary greatly in construction and purpose, often employing complex construction and design techniques, but most have the same set of basic components.

One part of a robot that is almost universally used is the drive train. Comprised of the wheels of the robot and whatever is necessary to drive them, such as gears, wheels, motors, and anything else required to maintain the integrity of the drive train, it provides the base structure for the robot. The Mechanical of Team 1403 has opted to use a drive train that is “fast and well balanced”, focusing on efficiency and performance. This is vital to creating an agile, responsive robot that can be effectively maneuvered on the field.