My team is going to study and implement a Power Take-Off (PTO) system in our VEX IQ Level Up robot design.
VEX IQ PTO (Power Takeoff)
The video, produced by High Voltage Robotics, explains the Power Takeoff (PTO) mechanism used in VEX IQ robotics competitions.
A PTO allows one motor to control two different robot functions, helping teams save motors and use their available motor capacity more efficiently.
| PTO Type | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Gravity PTO | Simple, lightweight design, but less reliable |
| Piston PTO | Uses a pneumatic piston to switch power; stable and lightweight |
| Chain PTO | Relatively simple, but can be unreliable |
| Slide PTO | A pneumatic piston slides gears to switch power; versatile and effective |
| Ratchet PTO | Uses a ratchet and gear system; compact but more complicated and somewhat outdated |
| Differential PTO | Most complex design, but compact, extremely reliable, and requires no pneumatics |
How PTO Works
The basic idea is:
One motor → PTO mechanism → Function A or Function B
Instead of dedicating one motor to each mechanism, the PTO changes the path through which the motor’s power is transmitted. This can free up motors for other parts of the robot.