FIRST Tech Challenge Chassis

TileRunner 6WD TileRunner 4WD Treadrunner MecanAM

TileRunner, TreadRunner and MecanAM

Five main configurations make up the base for the robot you need.
The original TileRunner 6-wheel drop center or 4-wheel drive (mecanum or traction + omni), the TreadRunner (tank treads), and the MecanAM Chassis.
  • Need a balanced drive train that can turn on a dime? Take a look at the 6-wheel drive TileRunner.
  • Want to use one end of your robot as the center of rotation to help with alignment? Choose a traction + omni options on either a TileRunner.
  • Precision movements in all directions part of your game plan? Mecanum variations allow for omnidirectional movement of your robot. Use this in either TileRunner.
  • Need to get up and over obstacles? TreadRunner variants can overcome those pesky hurdles by stepping over or crawling through.
  • The MecanAM Chassis has omnidirectional movement capabilities that can help drivers smoothly avoid obstacles and quickly change drive direction.
No matter which drivetrain you select, rest assured we've considered all the pieces and parts you'll need for the build. You'll only need some tools and your favorite workspace. If you already have many of the components that make up a TileRunner we have options above as well for no motors and/or no plates and/or no wheels!

TileRunner, TreadRunner, and MecanAM


Five main configurations make up the base for the robot you need.
The original TileRunner 6-wheel drop center or 4-wheel drive (mecanum or traction + omni), the TreadRunner (tank treads) and the MecanAM Chassis.
  • Need a balanced drive train that can turn on a dime? Take a look at the 6-wheel drive TileRunner.
  • Want to use one end of your robot as the center of rotation to help with alignment? Choose a traction + omni options on either a TileRunner.
  • Precision movements in all directions part of your game plan? Mecanum variations allow for omnidirectional movement of your robot. Use this in either TileRunner.
  • Need to get up and over obstacles? TreadRunner variants can overcome those pesky hurdles by stepping over or crawling through.
  • The MecanAM Chassis has omnidirectional movement capabilities that can help drivers smoothly avoid obstacles and quickly change drive direction.
No matter which drivetrain you select, rest assured we've considered all the pieces and parts you'll need for the build. You'll only need some tools and your favorite workspace. If you already have many of the components that make up a TileRunner we have options above as well for no motors and/or no plates and/or no wheels!
6-Wheel TileRunner

TileRunner 6-Wheel Drive

The original six-wheel drop-center chassis for competing in FIRST Tech Challenge. This chassis has been used to great success by countless teams. Holes for upper structure mounting along the top of the drive rails.

Gearbox Support:

  • NeveRests 14:1, 20:1, 40:1, 60:1
  • Orbital and Classic PicoBoxes both single and dual motor.

Ground Clearance:

  • 0.5 in. from wheel to belly pan hardware
  • 0.6 in. from ground to the belly pan

Wheel Options:

  • 6 Stealth Wheels
    • 50A, 60A, 80A Durometer
    • Stealth wheels provide a good amount of traction on soft tiles, the lower the durometer number the softer and grippier the wheel, but the faster it wears.
  • 4 Omni, 2 Traction Center
    • 50A, 60A, 80A Durometer Stealth Center 
    • Performance with Grey Grippy Tread Center 
      • Aluminium wheels with replicable tread material
  • 6 Compliant Wheels
    • 50A, 60A Durometer
      • compliant wheels conform around to obstacles and act like airless pneumatic tires. 

TileRunner 6-Wheel Recommendations

  • BT6S841 - This cost-effective 6-wheel drop-center drive TileRunner is where it all started. Good speed, turning, and power wrapped in an aluminum package.
  • BT6O62A - The 6-wheel drive TileRunner BUT with high speed 20 to 1 NeveRests and grippier stealth wheels PLUS Omni wheels in the corners. This is FAST and can turn on a dime!

Looking for Original TileRunners

Original TileRunners still exist, just as a different configurator product number! Below you will see links for equivalents under this new structure.

  • TileRunner Frame Only (This requires your own PicoBox plates, NeveRest Motors, and Wheels) as BTFNWNN
  • TileRunner Original 6WD am-3437 as BT6S84E
  • TileRunner Limited Edition (am-3437_LE) as BT6S841
  • TileRunner BullDozer (am-3437_bd) as BT6S56E
  • TileRunner Omni (am-3437_omni) as BT6OC4E
  • TileRunner Hulk (am-3437_hulk) as BT6PB4E

4-Wheel TileRunner

TileRunner 4-Wheel Drive

The Original TileRunner can change its shoes to match the occasion. Need omnidirectional drive instead? 4-Wheel is 4-You.

Gearbox Support:

  • NeveRests 14:1, 20:1, 40:1 and 60:1
  • Orbital and Classic single motor PicoBoxes

Ground Clearance:

  • 0.5 in. from wheel to belly pan hardware
  • 0.6 in. from ground to belly pan

Wheel Options:

  • HD Mecanum
    • Some of the toughest 4 in. mecanum wheels on the market
  • SD Mecanum
    • Some of the least expensive 4 in. mecanum wheels on the market 
  • 2 Omni, 2 Traction 
    • 50A, 60A, 80A Durometer Stealth 
      • Stealth wheels provide a good amount of traction, the lower the durometer number the softer and grippier the wheel, but the faster it wears.
    • Performance with Grey Grippy Tread 
      • Aluminium wheels with replicable tread material

TileRunner 4-Wheel Recommendations

BT4MH2A - Low center of gravity and high maneuverability makes for a sturdy and speed choice. HD Mecanum on a TileRunner is one of the most favored options of all time.

MecanAM Chassis

This chassis was created with maneuverability in mind. Omnidirectional movement allows teams to avoid obstacles and change directions on a dime.

Gearbox Support:

  • NeveRests; 14:1 and 20:1

Ground Clearance:

  • 0.74 in. at lowest point, when using 4 in. wheels

Wheel Options:

  • 4 in. BB Mecanum
    • This wheel is optimized for FTC, with a lightweight a slim profile
    • The ball bearings inside of the rollers make for a smoother ride
  • 4 in. HD Mecanum
    • Some of the toughest 4 in. mecanum wheels on the market

MecanAM Chassis Recommendations

BTMMB2N - The BB Mecanum Wheels and NeveRest Orbital 20:1 gearmotors work together to create a super maneuverable and swift chassis.

TreadRunner

TreadRunner

Grippy treads won't slip or slide when you need to move. This chassis has all your favorite features of a TileRunner, but with unrelenting traction.

Gearbox Support:

  • NeveRests 40:1 and 60:1
  • Classic PicoBox two motor

Ground Clearance:

  • 0.4 in. from belt to bellypan hardware
  • 0.5 in. from belt to bellypan

Wheel Options:

  • Black Urethane Rubber Tread

TreadRunner Recommendations

BTTBT41 - The fastest tank-style drive available. Combines speed with unstoppable traversing power.

Push it to the Limit:
Ratios and SPEED

For these chassis, you can pick a NeveRest Ratio and Picobox Ratio. The combinations of gearing give you a plethora of drive speeds options.

NeveRests come in these ratios 60:1, 40:1, 20:1, and 14:1.
PicoBoxes come in, 7:9, 1:1, 9:7

All of these combinations give the following speed ranges for a TileRunner.

TreadRunners use only 60:1 and 40:1 NeveRests, but still, use all PicoBox gearing for the following speeds.

TreadRunner Speeds