Mechanical, Build & PneumaticsModule 1 of 12

Drivetrains: Moving the Robot

The drivetrain is the foundation of every robot. This module compares the major architectures used in FRC, the wheels and motors that power them, and how to choose the right one for a game.

Drivetrains: Moving the Robot is module 1 of 12 in the Mechanical, Build & Pneumatics guide. It picks up where Engineering Foundations: Forces, Torque, and Machines left off and hands over to Power Transmission and Gear Ratios. Its 4 lessons are about 140 minutes of the guide's ~21 hours.

4 lessons~140 min47 lessons in this guide

Start with lesson 1 All of Mechanical, Build & Pneumatics

In this module

4 lessons

01Tank and West Coast DriveThe classic, robust skid-steer drivetrain that most teams start with and many championship teams still use.35 min read

02Swerve DriveThe omnidirectional drivetrain that lets a robot drive in any direction while pointing anywhere, now the dominant high-level architecture.40 min read

03Mecanum and Other Omnidirectional DrivesMecanum gives sideways motion with a simpler mechanism than swerve, at the cost of traction and pushing power.30 min read

04Wheels, Tread, and MotorsThe contact patch and the motor define how fast, how grippy, and how strong your drivetrain is.35 min read

Previous moduleEngineering Foundations: Forces, Torque, and Machines

Next modulePower Transmission and Gear Ratios

Jargon check

FRC terms used in Drivetrains: Moving the Robot

Longer reads

Articles that go deeper on this

FRC Drivetrain Types: Tank, Swerve, and MecanumA beginner-friendly guide to FRC drivetrains: how tank, swerve, and mecanum drives work, their tradeoffs, and how to pick one for your robot.4 min read

FRC Wheels and Traction: Tread, Durometer, and Choosing the Right WheelHow to choose FRC drivetrain wheels: coefficient of friction, Shore A durometer, tread compounds, Colson vs pneumatic vs traction, diameter, and pushing power.18 min read

All 12 modules in Mechanical, Build & Pneumatics

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