Omniwheels, sometimes called Polywheels, are a type of multi-directional wheel with rollers fitted to the outer circumference.
When utilized within BattleBots competitors, this allows for some robots to strafe from side to side and move with more freedom and unpredictability inside the BattleBox. Other robots use them to reduce friction during motion perpendicular to the wheel, which can result in better driving characteristics.
Design and History[]
One of Shatter!'s mecanum omniwheels.
Omniwheels typically allow better evasive action, and make it easier for a robot to keep their primary weapons pointed towards their opponent. The downside with omni-wheels was that they've been known to be more complex to work with than regular wheels, and they have less traction as well.
Only a select few robots have used omniwheels throughout BattleBots history. The UK heavyweight Razer was the first to utilize omniwheels on its rear, however these were to reduce friction when the robot turned, rather than for omni-directional mobility. Kevin Lung is the builder recognized as the first to bring omni-directional mobility to BattleBots with his heavyweight Chomp, which debuted during Season 3.0. Kevin Lung would later return in 2018 with a bot using non-omniwheels to achieve a similar strafing effect, Double Dutch.
They have been used to great effect in recent years, however, with Shatter! and Glitch as notable examples. Ominous became the first international competitor to sport omniwheels, debuting in World Championship VII having had to withdraw from the previous two seasons. In Episode 14 of World Championship VII, the first fight between two robots sporting omniwheels was held, with Shatter! defeating Ominous to earn its first win of the season.
Notable Competitors[]
| Robot | Seasons | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Razer * | Long Beach 1999 Las Vegas 1999 |
|
| Chomp | Season 3.0 | 
|
| Root Canal | Season 4.0 Season 5.0 |
|
| Bot Product | Season 5.0 |  |
| Puck | Season 5.0 | 
|
| Terrorantula | Season 5.0 | 
|
| HellaChopper | World Championship II (Withdrew) |  |
| Basilisk ** | World Championship III |  |
| Shatter! | World Championship IV - Present |  |
| Glitch | World Championship VI - Present |  |
| Ominous | World Championship VII - Present |  |
| Apex | BattleBots Proving Ground |  |
| Traves T. *** | BattleBots Proving Ground |  |
| Taco Tuesday * | BattleBots Proving Ground |  |
| Warthog | BattleBots Proving Ground |  |
* Omniwheels used on the rear of the robot to improve turning characteristics, not for omnidirectional movement.
** Mecanum omniwheels were made but did not make the finished robot. In the case of Basilisk, they failed in the Test Box and were swapped with normal wheels for all of its fights.
*** Omniwheels exclusively used as unpowered casters.