Four Wheel Drive Using Standard Transmissions
 

I have a question, is anyone using the standard kit transmissions to make their robot four wheel drive, and if so are you experiencing any problems in turning (i.e. jumping, motors stalling)?

Thank-You in advance for any input you may have.
David Lamp (Team 1254 Mentor)

Re: Four Wheel Drive Using Standard Transmissions
 

Every robot that has 4 wheel drive will hope. The same thing happend to pickup trucks in low. One solution is to go 6 wheel drive with the center wheel set down 1/16 of an inch. Another solution is omni wheels. A third is less traction wheels. And last have a wider robot.

Re: Four Wheel Drive Using Standard Transmissions
 

The kit transmission can be converted into a 4WD rather easily by adding sprockets to your front drive axles (or wheels) and a second set of sprockets on the transmission output shafts.
As for problems, I have never expierienced any with the kit gearbox (save when we used a too large set screw). If your having problems turning, your wheels likely have too much traction. There are several ways to solve this:
1-wider wheel base
2-shaving "treads" off the tires
3-using omni-wheels on the front wheels
4-Using wheels with smaller contact points
5-Using wheels with a lower co-efficient of friction
6-wrapping your tires with wire ties to lower co-efficient of friction

Re: Four Wheel Drive Using Standard Transmissions
 

first off you want a smaller wheelbase. longer wheelbase will be harder to turn
im gonna add to the list
7-wider track width.
8-changing the tread
9-use omniwheels on the front tires
10-if ur using pneumatic tires fill up to max pressure
11- move the center of mass over one side of the robot rather than centering it. on a 4wd most of the time its close enough that you can say the robot will rotate about its center of mass.

and as for every 4wd robot hopping, NOPE. a well designed and or modified accordingly robot will not hop. we have never had a hopping robot and have been using 4wd for a couple years now. and i think we've been one of the pushier robots on the field

Re: Four Wheel Drive Using Standard Transmissions
 

we are going to use the stock kit transmissions for our four wheel drive but we arent going to use the wheels that came with the kit. so far we arent having any trouble at all