Speed Reduction - Revision history

RobotRobot: Fix dead links (Oct 2026 link check): replace moved pages, remove discontinued products and closed stores

2026-10-17T14:38:46Z

Fix dead links (Oct 2026 link check): replace moved pages, remove discontinued products and closed stores

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:38, 17 October 2026
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	How fast should you be? Speed vs. Pushing		How fast should you be? Speed vs. Pushing
	Learning to drive		Learning to drive
	Robotic Legend has created a [https://roboticlegends.~~org~~/~~buildingtips/drivesystems~~/how-to-calculate-speed-based-on-wheel-speed-tire-diameter/ nice tutorial on how to calculate speed].		Robotic Legend has created a [https://roboticlegends.com/general/how-to-calculate-speed-based-on-wheel-speed-tire-diameter/ nice tutorial on how to calculate speed].

	=== Optimizing Weapon Speed ===		=== Optimizing Weapon Speed ===

User: /* Friction */

2022-02-11T05:33:15Z

Friction

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:33, 11 February 2022
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	== Friction ==		== Friction ==
	Friction can be simple to impliment ~~but~~ it ~~has a lot of downsides and isn~~'t ~~common in robot combat~~.		Friction drive is a system that depends upon friction between moving parts in contact to transmit motion. Often a wheel is directly attached to a drive motor which is then pressed against another rotatiting part to impart motion.<br>
	~~Pros~~		Pros: Friction can be simple to impliment <br>
	Cons		Pros: Friction drive can be light weight since it doesn't require heavy parts like gears or sprockets or chains.<br>
			Cons: Maintaining the right level of friction can b challenging. <br>
			Cons: Friction drive wheels can wear out quickly. <br>

User: /* Gears */

2022-02-10T04:46:08Z

Gears

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:46, 10 February 2022
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	== Gears ==		== Gears ==
	Gears are wheels with teeth that slot together. When one gear is turned the other one turns as well. If the gears are of different sizes, they can be used to increase the power of a turning force. The smaller wheel turns more quickly but with less force, while the bigger one turns more slowly with more force. Although rarely used in weapons, gears are a popular choice with drive systems as they come in a variety of sizes and configurations. <br>		Gears are wheels with teeth that slot together. When one gear is turned the other one turns as well. If the gears are of different sizes, they can be used to increase the power of a turning force. The smaller wheel turns more quickly but with less force, while the bigger one turns more slowly with more force. Although rarely used in weapons, gears are a popular choice with drive systems as they come in a variety of sizes and configurations. <br>
	Pros: Gears transfer power efficiently. <br.		Pros: Gears transfer power efficiently. <br>
	Pros: Gears can be arranged to take up very little space inside a robot. <br>		Pros: Gears can be arranged to take up very little space inside a robot. <br>
	Cons: The build quality of inexpensive gearboxes rarely hold up in combat robots. <br>		Cons: The build quality of inexpensive gearboxes rarely hold up in combat robots. <br>

User: /* Gears */

2022-02-10T04:45:47Z

Gears

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:45, 10 February 2022
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	== Gears ==		== Gears ==
	Although rarely used in weapons, gears are a popular choice with drive systems.		Gears are wheels with teeth that slot together. When one gear is turned the other one turns as well. If the gears are of different sizes, they can be used to increase the power of a turning force. The smaller wheel turns more quickly but with less force, while the bigger one turns more slowly with more force. Although rarely used in weapons, gears are a popular choice with drive systems as they come in a variety of sizes and configurations. <br>
	Pros		Pros: Gears transfer power efficiently. <br.
	Cons		Pros: Gears can be arranged to take up very little space inside a robot. <br>
			Cons: The build quality of inexpensive gearboxes rarely hold up in combat robots. <br>
			Cons: Gears are heavy. <br>

	== Chains ==		== Chains ==

User: /* Belts */

2022-02-10T04:34:24Z

Belts

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:34, 10 February 2022
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	== Belts ==		== Belts ==
	Belts are a light-weight solution for transfering power.		Drive belts use friction to operate. Tension is applied to the belt which causes friction between the belt and the pulleys that it's installed around. Some belts and pulleys have 'teeth' or ridges to increase friction and keep their motion in synch. <br>
	Pros		Pros: Belts are a light-weight solution for transfering power. <br>
	Cons		Pros: Belts come in a wide variety of sizes and styles making them suitible for many designs. <br>
			Cons: Belts can break in high energy applications. <br>
			Cons: Belts can loosen over time which reduces their effectiveness. <br>

	== Friction ==		== Friction ==

User: /* Chains */

2022-02-10T04:24:52Z

Chains

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:24, 10 February 2022
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	== Chains ==		== Chains ==
	A Roller Chain, known as the drive chain or transmission chain, passing over a sprocket gear, with the teeth of the gear meshing with the holes in the links of the chain. Pro: Chains are a highly efficient way to transfer power.		A Roller Chain, known as the drive chain or transmission chain, passing over a sprocket gear, with the teeth of the gear meshing with the holes in the links of the chain.
	Pro: Physically strong.		<br>
	Cons: Often requir exact spacing or tensioners to keep them on their sprockets.		Pro: Chains are a highly efficient way to transfer power. <br>
	Cons: Chains are relatively heavy.		Pro: Physically strong. <br>
			Cons: Often requir exact spacing or tensioners to keep them on their sprockets. <br>
			Cons: Chains are relatively heavy. <br>

	== Belts ==		== Belts ==

User: /* Chains */

2022-02-10T04:24:14Z

Chains

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:24, 10 February 2022
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	== Chains ==		== Chains ==
	Chains are a highly efficient way to transfer power.		A Roller Chain, known as the drive chain or transmission chain, passing over a sprocket gear, with the teeth of the gear meshing with the holes in the links of the chain. Pro: Chains are a highly efficient way to transfer power.
	~~Pros~~		Pro: Physically strong.
	Cons		Cons: Often requir exact spacing or tensioners to keep them on their sprockets.
			Cons: Chains are relatively heavy.

	== Belts ==		== Belts ==

User: Added some details, needs more

2021-12-21T04:07:48Z

Added some details, needs more

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:07, 21 December 2021
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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 ~~about~~ 3 seconds.		'''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, choosing a motor with~~ the ~~right Kv for your voltage will get you~~ where you ~~need to be. In most larger robots, direct drive weapons~~ are ~~too fragile and you will want to transfer the motor speed to a weapon shaft via gears, belts, or chains~~.

			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

User at 03:27, 3 November 2021

2021-11-03T03:27:16Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:27, 3 November 2021
Line 8:		Line 8:

	=== 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. ~~Although~~ some smaller robot classes can get away with direct drives for their weapons, in most ~~cases reducing~~ the speed via ~~a gear~~ or ~~belt will give you better performance~~.		'''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 about 3 seconds.

			In some smaller robot classes that can get away with direct drives for their weapons, choosing a motor with the right Kv for your voltage will get you where you need to be. In most larger robots, direct drive weapons are too fragile and you will want to transfer the motor speed to a weapon shaft via gears, belts, or chains.

	<br>		<br>
	Top speed		===Top speed===

	<br>		<br>


	== Gears ==		== Gears ==

	Pros		Pros
	Cons		Cons

User: Started Page with some content but still has big gaps.

2021-10-28T05:22:48Z

Started Page with some content but still has big gaps.

New page

== 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 [https://roboticlegends.org/buildingtips/drivesystems/how-to-calculate-speed-based-on-wheel-speed-tire-diameter/ 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. Although some smaller robot classes can get away with direct drives for their weapons, in most cases reducing the speed via a gear or belt will give you better performance.
<br>
Top speed
<br>

== Gears ==
Pros
Cons

== Chains ==
Pros
Cons

== Belts ==
Pros
Cons

== Friction ==
Pros
Cons