Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

To guess the purpose of this unfinished mechanism, or to guess what this crazy but simple other component is. That is as far as I go with giving hints... Lol

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

In part, yes!

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Missing 2/3 of the Design

-Clinton-

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

This.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

The drive will lift up the chassis and be able to traverse a step or bump.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Video of it in action.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Nope :P

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

For viewing convenience:
Renders: here and here

DanielDTech in blue

1. The CIM motor isn't wasted at all
2. This is not only an interesting design, but a revolutionary one, in and beyond FRC
   
3. Yes, both wheels are simultaneously powered
   
4. ...This does indeed have something to do with shifting, I'll tell you that. But there's something HUGE that you guys are missing...
   
   
5. A and B are wrong. C is partially correct!
   A. Both "wheels" touch the ground at the same time
   B. The "wheels" aren't actually for driving
   C. The whole assembly pivots back and forth. This would work well for bumpy fields/ off road applications outside of FIRST
   
   
6. ...yes, it's just the angle. Both wheels are actuated as a matter of fact.
   While the guess that it is a shifting wheel, as it stands right now it doesn't appear that either of the wheels are actuated (Might just be the angle).
   
   
7. That is the closest guess yet. But again, you're missing something huge... The part that I think is pretty difficult for anyone to guess, otherwise I wouldn't put $15 bucks on it
   So it's like Octocanum but switching between two traction wheels (for different speeds/wheelbases).
   
   
8. You are on track, but still very wrong. This is certainly revolutionary, keep in mind that there is a HUGE concept that you're not seeing here.
   This is one quarter of a wheel-shifting drivetrain, where two different types of wheel can be changed at will, or used for climbing. Again, I don't think this is exactly revolutionary for FRC--similar things have been done on several occasions.
   
   
9. Indeed, it is aesthetically pleasing and it does not flip. But don't totally throw away the pivoting idea
   I don't think it flips 180...
   
   
10. You are 100% wrong
    I'm probably 100% wrong but it could possibly be that you have an 8WD narrowed down to a single module.
    
    
11. I don't have the pivoting setup on here... This is about 30% of the actual mechanism.
    Is this thing self-pivoting? Or do you just not have the pivoting setup in this model?
    
    
12. You're missing nearly everything. Like I said, this is about 30% of the mechanism. It's not at all what you guys think it is.
    Automatic load balancing/switching between pushing force and higher speed? A CVT in there somewhere? Most of the device is shown in the render. I don't see any mystery really. I must be missing something here.
    
    
13. Very nice guesses! The unit is indeed very compact and light; it needs to be, since there will be more than one on the robot. But the big secret here is actually much simpler than any of these great educated guesses.
    It also looks like it is meant to be mounted through a hole in a sheet metal [or plywood] base/pan...Maybe this is to simplify frame design? (Just a pan with 4 wheel holes?) ... Or maybe it could be mounted in a lazy susan and used as a crab module? ... Another aspect I see is that the Cim is off center. Perhaps some sort of a counterweight? ... If you tossed a tread on the wheel, you'd already have a spare wheel you could toss in.
    
    
14. In part, yes!
    A dual wheel rocker where each wheel is a different speed with an automatic shifter mechanism?
    Editor's note: raise your hand if you're surprised this was JVN, that he got the first "yes" guess or that the first word in the post was "Simpsons"
    
    
15. It definitely doesn't pivot that much
    Well is looks like it definitely flips in the direction of the larger wheel with the larger wheel traveling under to other side raising the small wheel way up in the air and flips the CIM completely to the other side...
    
    
16. Nope
    The drive will lift up the chassis and be able to traverse a step or bump.
    

[/ImTooMethodical] I'll guess later.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Is your mechanism inside the wheels? Internal gearing/anything?

*begins to lose interest*

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

The other 2/3s of it: the drivetrain.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Hmm.. I'll take a crack at it..

Is this a mechanism for a robot?

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

THANK YOU for not shooting me... I DO want to live... ;-)

SO, I believe you said JVN got it correct in what can actually be seen... "a dual wheel rocker where each wheel is a different speed with an automatic shifter mechanism"

Since I'm a pretend engineer please be gentle with me... it appears that part of the 2/3 missing is the mechanical actuator that causes the automatic shifting... like a vertical pneumatic cylinder that causes a pivot/change between the wheels, right?

IF NOT the case, I'm going to fire-up the TiVo and lose myself in THE WALKING DEAD and come back to this tomorrow...

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Judging from the ratios I see, the wheels seem like they would be spinning at approximately the same speed, also the way the assembly is mounted suggests that it pivots, and the shape of the cut out of the mount suggests the smaller wheel can be raised significantly. In my opinion, this seems like a mechanism to either raise the chassis to over come an obstacle or a mechanism that allows a team to switch the configuration of their drive terrain during a mach, for example switching from a 4 wheel to an 8 wheel or 6 wheel to an 8 wheel or any other combination.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

I believe he's missing the encoder.

Don't forget your sensors.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Yes, there is a vertical cylinder that causes the pivot. But that's only another, let's say, 10% of the unit. So, I'll talk to you tomorrow! :P