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Ever wanted to learn more about different types of FTC drivetrains? You’re in the right place! Check out Curiosity’s guide to explore the most popular drivetrain options, learn how they work, and discover which one might be the best fit for your team. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to refine your next design, this guide will help you build a strong foundation for your FTC robot.
TOP 4 THINGS TO KNOW FOR ANY FTC DRIVETRAIN
Some are easier to code than others.
Simple drivetrains like tank drive or a 4 wheel mecanum drivetrain are easier to program, while more complex drivetrains like a swerve or kiwi drive are more complex to program.
Balance your robot’s weight
Even weight distribution improves traction and prevents tips during quick turns or acceleration.
Pro Tip: Keep your robot’s center of gravity low! A low center of gravity means most of the weight is close to the ground. This makes your robot more stable and less likely to tip over, especially when turning quickly or going over obstacles.
Choose the right motors and gearing
Select gear ratios and motors that give you the right balance of speed and torque for your game’s demands
For example, during Curiosity’s Into the Deep season, we used 312 RPM motors which we felt were effective at crossing the field at high speeds while still maintaining the necessary torque to handle the weight of our mechanisms
Design for easy maintenance
The drivetrain is the foundation of any FTC robot so designing a drivetrain that is easy to modify and keeping all motor wiring accessible is key.
Fun fact: Curiosity has been pocketing our aluminum drivetrain panels since our Power Play season! This makes them lighter and easier to access screws without sacrificing any strength or rigidity.
Pro tip: If you are utilizing taller drivetrain panels or you are not planning to add extensive pocketing, add access holes to your drivetrain panels. This makes it much easier to reach motors, screws, and wiring without fully disassembling your robot.
ACCESS HOLE TIPS
Position holes near key components like motor mounts, motor shafts, and wiring connectors.
Consider adding multiple smaller holes instead oCarp corners that can cause wear on wires or tools.
TYPES OF DRIVETRAINS
Drop Center
In a drop center drivetrain, the middle wheels are slightly lower than the rest of the wheels.
✅ When to use/Pros:
Allows the robot to turn with more ease (fewer wheels in contact with the ground during a turn).
Reduces scrub friction because only four wheels (instead of six) are fully contacting the ground when turning.
⚠️Things to watch out for:
Not the best for climbing over bumps or rough ground.
Direct Drive
In a direct drive drivetrain, the motors are mounted directly to the wheels.
✅ When to use/Pros:
Great if you want a simple, lightweight, and fast drivetrain
Good for rookie teams as it is a simpler but still effective design!
Very quick response since the power goes DIRECTLY to the wheel
⚠️Things to watch out for:
Not as much pushing power as other drivetrains
Harder to fit into some robot designs because the motor takes up space by the wheel.
Pro tip: Since your drivetrain is the foundation of all your other robot mechanisms, design your drivetrain with the expectation that additional subsystems will need to integrate seamlessly—account for mounting interfaces, structural rigidity, weight distribution, and clearance for wiring and motion paths of arms, lifts, or intakes.
Curiosity’s direct drive drivetrain from Into the Deep Season!
6 Wheel Tank Drive
A drivetrain with three wheels on each side, driven like a tank.
✅ When to use/Pros:
Strong pushing power and very reliable
Fun fact: Curiosity used a 6‑wheel tank drive during our Power Play season because it gave us a strong, defensive base, and in that game robots could succeed by mostly driving in straight lines as opposed to strafing.
Pro tip: Choose a drivetrain that matches your game strategy—sometimes simple and reliable beats fancy and complex!
⚠️ Things to watch out for:
Can’t move sideways, only forward/backward and turn.
Swerve Drive
Each wheel can rotate and drive independently, giving full movement control.
✅ When to use/Pros:
Can move in any direction and rotate at the same time (super maneuverable).
Great for advanced strategies and avoiding defense.
⚠️Things to watch out for:
One of the hardest and most complex drivetrains to build.
Requires a lot of programming and maintenance.
Heavier and uses more parts than simpler drives.
Layout of a Swerve Drive Profile
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