GearRatios

Gear Ratios

When designing a robot drivebase, the designer must pick a balance between the maximum velocity of the robot and the maximum torque it can output. Given a limited number of motors, a robot will need to sacrifice velocity for torque or vice versa. Gear ratios are what make conversions between velocity and torque possible and it’s essential for any roboteer to understand the relationship between gear ratios and drivebase performance to create a robot that addresses the challenges of competition.

Understanding gear ratios begins with memorizing the following formulae: