RPM (Revolutions Per Minute) measures the rotational speed of a motor shaft. However, rotation alone does not determine how fast a robot or vehicle travels. That motion must be transferred through gears and wheels to create linear movement.
A gearbox converts motor RPM into usable wheel RPM using a gear ratio. Higher gear ratios reduce speed but increase torque, allowing robots to carry load and climb surfaces.
Each wheel revolution moves the system forward by the wheel's circumference. Larger wheels cover more distance per rotation, which increases overall speed.
Combining wheel RPM and circumference gives the final linear speed of the robot or vehicle.
This is why selecting the correct motor, gear ratio, and wheel size is critical in robotics, RC vehicles, and automation systems.
