The drive train is how your robot wheels are arranged and powered! Different types let your robot move in different ways.

How This Affects Performance:

• Tank: Very strong pushing, great turns, but can't move sideways
• Mecanum: Can move in ANY direction but uses more battery and less pushing power
• Holonomic: Super maneuverable but less efficient than tank
• Differential: Good balance of speed and pushing power

Different wheels grip the ground differently and affect how your robot moves!

Which is best?

• Traction: Best for pushing and climbing
• Omni: Best for quick turning and smooth driving
• Mecanum: Best for moving sideways and special moves
• High-Traction: Best when you need to push heavy objects

Motors are the muscles of your robot! Different motors have different power and speed.

Motor Power & Battery Life:

• Stronger motors use more battery power!
• Using multiple motors gives more power but shorter battery life
• V5 Smart motors are the strongest but use the most power
• Match your motors to your robot's weight - heavier robots need stronger motors

Gears change how your motor's power gets to the wheels!

Higher first number = More pushing power, but slower

Higher second number = More speed, but less pushing power

Examples:

• 5:1 ratio - Robot is slow but SUPER strong (good for pushing)
• 1:5 ratio - Robot is SUPER fast but not good at pushing
• 1:1 ratio - Balanced speed and pushing power

Tip: Heavier robots usually need more pushing power, so a higher first number helps them move better!

The surface your robot drives on makes a BIG difference in how it moves!

How Surface Affects Performance:

• Tile: Fastest speeds but less pushing power
• Carpet: More pushing power but slower speeds
• Foam: Good balance of speed and grip
• Wood: Very fast but can slip during turns

Remember: Your wheel type needs to match your surface! Traction wheels work better on slippery surfaces.

More wheels = more contact with the ground!

More wheels help with:

• Better grip on the ground
• More pushing power
• Smoother driving over bumps

But more wheels also:

• Make turning harder
• Add more weight
• Use more battery power

Tip: If your robot needs to cross rough terrain or push heavy objects, more wheels help!

How many motors power each side of your robot?

More motors per side means:

• More power for pushing
• Better acceleration
• Can carry heavier loads

But be careful:

• Each motor adds weight
• Uses battery power much faster
• Makes your robot more expensive

Rule of thumb: Heavy robots need at least 2 motors per side to move well!