Difference between revisions of "Speed Reduction"
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=== Optimizing Weapon Speed === | === Optimizing Weapon Speed === | ||
| − | '''Spin up time''' is as important, if not more important than how fast a spinning weapon spins at top speed. If your weapon takes too long to spin up, an aggressive opponent will make contact with your slow moving weapon without taking damage. Typically you want to be able to reach 90% of your top speed in | + | '''Spin up time''' is as important, if not more important than how fast a spinning weapon spins at top speed. If your weapon takes too long to spin up, an aggressive opponent will make contact with your slow moving weapon without taking damage. Typically you want to be able to reach 90% of your top speed in 3 seconds or less. Quick spin up times can be even more important in the small weight classes where small arenas mean you are never far from your opponent. |
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| + | In some smaller robot classes that can get away with direct drives for their weapons but typically the motor shaft won't be robust enough to survive weapon impacts. In most larger robots and many small ones, direct drive weapons are too fragile and you will want to transfer the motor speed to a weapon shaft via gears, belts, or chains. This transfer of power from the motor to the weapon-shaft is an opportunity to adjust the weapon speed to find the right balance between spin-up time and top speed. | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
===Top speed=== | ===Top speed=== | ||
| − | + | '''Faster is always better''' isn't always true. Although high speed is needed to make the robots weapon destructive, spinning the weapon too fast has some downsides. Gyroscopic forces can make turning the robot difficult, and some weapon designs like drumbs or disks may have difficulty 'biting' into an opponent. Also, some events or robot-classes such as sportsman robots may have rule limitations on weapon top-speed. | |
<br> | <br> | ||
== Gears == | == Gears == | ||
| − | + | Although rarely used in weapons, gears are a popular choice with drive systems. | |
Pros | Pros | ||
Cons | Cons | ||
== Chains == | == Chains == | ||
| + | Chains are a highly efficient way to transfer power. | ||
Pros | Pros | ||
Cons | Cons | ||
== Belts == | == Belts == | ||
| + | Belts are a light-weight solution for transfering power. | ||
Pros | Pros | ||
Cons | Cons | ||
== Friction == | == Friction == | ||
| + | Friction can be simple to impliment but it has a lot of downsides and isn't common in robot combat. | ||
Pros | Pros | ||
Cons | Cons | ||
Revision as of 04:07, 21 December 2021
Optimizing Speed
For nearly all applications, motors spin faster than is optimal. Although speed can be important, in most cases the added torque gained via speed reduction is needed to get the performance you are looking for.
Optimizing Drive Speed
How fast should you be? Speed vs. Pushing Learning to drive Robotic Legend has created a nice tutorial on how to calculate speed.
Optimizing Weapon Speed
Spin up time is as important, if not more important than how fast a spinning weapon spins at top speed. If your weapon takes too long to spin up, an aggressive opponent will make contact with your slow moving weapon without taking damage. Typically you want to be able to reach 90% of your top speed in 3 seconds or less. Quick spin up times can be even more important in the small weight classes where small arenas mean you are never far from your opponent.
In some smaller robot classes that can get away with direct drives for their weapons but typically the motor shaft won't be robust enough to survive weapon impacts. In most larger robots and many small ones, direct drive weapons are too fragile and you will want to transfer the motor speed to a weapon shaft via gears, belts, or chains. This transfer of power from the motor to the weapon-shaft is an opportunity to adjust the weapon speed to find the right balance between spin-up time and top speed.
Top speed
Faster is always better isn't always true. Although high speed is needed to make the robots weapon destructive, spinning the weapon too fast has some downsides. Gyroscopic forces can make turning the robot difficult, and some weapon designs like drumbs or disks may have difficulty 'biting' into an opponent. Also, some events or robot-classes such as sportsman robots may have rule limitations on weapon top-speed.
Gears
Although rarely used in weapons, gears are a popular choice with drive systems. Pros Cons
Chains
Chains are a highly efficient way to transfer power. Pros Cons
Belts
Belts are a light-weight solution for transfering power. Pros Cons
Friction
Friction can be simple to impliment but it has a lot of downsides and isn't common in robot combat. Pros Cons