Drive Train
 

Can you help me design a drive train for First Robotics. It need too be able to go over different terrain. Thanks

Re: Drive Train
 

First off, welcome to Chief Delphi.

Now on to the question:
Considering that the FRC game hasn't come out, what makes you believe that there will be terrain. The reason I ask is that the best drivetrain is the one that does the job, and since we don't yet know what the task is ... well that makes designing a drivetrain difficult.

I might suggest that you search CD (middle of orange navigation bar at the top of this page) for drive trains to get an idea of whats typically buildable by a FIRST team. Then start strategizing from there.

Re: Drive Train
 

I have been given a task by my teacher to design a drivetrain , ans he believes that in the future of FRC you could have to cross different types of terrain.

Re: Drive Train
 

I would still suggest you search CD-media for some drive trains that fit the bill. Also I hope you are not planning on getting someone on CD to do the assignment for you.

Re: Drive Train
 

Still, "terrain" is a general term. Does your teacher mean "terrain" as in an uneven playing surface with little bumps and valleys everywhere, but the bumps and valleys are only +/- half an inch from "ground level?" Or does "terrain" mean having a 4 inch tall "wall" in the middle of the field that you have to traverse?

Each scenario would require different designs. For example, the uneven surface could be solved with larger wheels or pneumatic tires. The 4 inch wall on the other hand could be solved with even larger wheels (perhaps to the point of impracticality), or some kind of articulating chassis.

Re: Drive Train
 

Fair enough.

OK, again first off, do a search for drive trains here on CD --- there are plenty of good ones here.

Next, you need to define what type of terrain is expected. Things like; is it hard or soft? slope or step? solid, granular, or liquid?

Then you need to know how much manuverability, torque, ground clearence, speed, etc that you need.

There is a lot that goes into a drive train. Another thought is that the Kit-Of-Parts can be easily assembled into a 2- or 4-wheel skid steer drive base that typically does OK in FIRST matches (It won't win you any awards, but will most likely not fail on you either during matches).

Anyways, I hope this helps, and good luck with your assignment.

Re: Drive Train
 

if you are ready to do some digging you can look up on the 92 game (the first FIRST competition ever) maize craze. in that game they used corn husks instead of carpet. From what i know they used 6 wheel drive trains with extra wide wheels to spread out the weight of the robot.

The only other advice i would have for you is to look at off road vehicles and figure out a way to incorporate large wheels with shocks if you truly want an all-terrain robot.

Re: Drive Train
 

OK Ryan, so what next?

1. Do the searching others have suggested. Look at robot designs for a few hours, try to understand them.
2. Think about what kind of "terrain" you want to conquer. A good challenge would be a 4x4 piece of lumber to cross. Not as easy as you think.
3. Find a design that you think might be able to do that, and then design your own.

There is a saying: "Steal from the best and invent the rest". What this means is that you should first see what others have done to solve this "problem", and then use those ideas to come up with an idea of your own. You don't think the engineers from General Motors start from nothing when they design a wheel for a new car, do you?

Most of all: Keep asking questions. We at Chief Delphi are here to help.

Re: Drive Train
 

Also. Me being the CAD guy I have to suggest that if you have a CAD program avalable, use it. It will allow presenting it to your teacher much easier. We here on Chief Delphi are willing to help with how to use the programs as well, though I suggest you go through the tutorials as well.

Re: Drive Train
 

Nothing was written here..

Re: Drive Train
 

Considering the producers of some of the most popular CAD software sponsor FRC, I would say it's a very good idea to use their software. Especially when Autodesk gives away free licenses of Inventor to teams.

Re: Drive Train
 

Solidworks does too. I think there was a thread on ChiefDelphi about it this past summer. I know our team got 5 DVDs with 1 year licenses, as well as some downloadable licenses for 150 days.

EDIT: I'm not 100% sure if this is the right link, but it looks like it. http://www.solidworks.com/sw/educati...mpetitions.htm

Re: Drive Train
 

urrrg, but I never get the freebies, and what can I do? lolol

Re: Drive Train
 

Re: Drive Train
 

That was quick... Thanks in advance.
How long would I be able to use the software?

Re: Drive Train
 

Pretty sure its one year licenses and you get a new one each year.

-RC

P.s. If you want a Solidworks License, send Marie Parchland a PM.

Re: Drive Train
 

1 year. I have a 1 year license on both Inventor and SolidWorks. I can help with either one if you ever need it.

Re: Drive Train
 

Thanks a million for y'all help, I used to think that SolidWorks, AutoDesk can only be gotten through purchase, not anymore! :) I'm still not sure whether to use SolidWorks or AutoDesk... For those that have used them, what are the major distinctions between the two?

Re: Drive Train
 

Personally I prefer SolidWorks. It's mainly a matter of preference. I learned CAD on inventor and even got pretty good at it. Well.. I say that. I really wasn't... Anyway. I then tried out SolidWorks, which I have found to be more user friendly. Everything is well laid out. And easier to find than it is in AutoDesk Incentor.

Re: Drive Train
 

cool, then I'll take your advice and download SolidWorks.
For SolidWorks, do I get a new license every year too? because I've just read on their official website, and it says that "a limited (non-renewable/non-extendable) license. ".

Re: Drive Train
 

In order to get SolidWorks you have to sign your team up. They will send you 5 copies of SolidWorks to pass around your team. Each copy gets its own 1 year license. At the end of that I believe you have to renew your sponsorship. I may be wrong. RC or Marie Parchland can clarify that.

Also. I advise that after you get good with SolidWorks go ahead and try out AutoDesk. Just so that you can decided for yourself which one you prefer.

-Rion

Re: Drive Train
 

Hmm, I try to register, but there are two blanks which I can`t filled in, these are ``Please enter your Personal Computer ID * :`` , and ``Please enter the Serial Number on your CD * :``.
Any idea on how I can get the info to fill in these two blanks in order to register for the Authorization CodeÉ

Re: Drive Train
 

What Rion mentioned is 5 copies of SW with non renewable licenses. However, a team can apply for the SW sponsorship after their first licenses run out. PM mplanchard on here to get more information if you would like Solidworks, or if you feel more comfortable learning Autodesk Inventor then register at the given site.
http://students6.autodesk.com/?lbon=1

Re: Drive Train
 

If you are looking for something different that can climb; we played with this design a few years


We eventually found the virtues of KISS to all too true and have been running with simple 6 wheel drive trains for the past few years

Here is our inventor page link for some more views and specs.
http://academics.tridenttech.edu/tea...l_systems.html

Re: Drive Train
 

Apparently, AutoDesk seems much more accessible in the perspective of a student. I just filled out a survey at SolidWorks, waiting for their reply. If it was really as Former Famous described, that AutoDesk is not as user-friendly as SolidWorks, then it won`t be that much of a matter to me, because I got plenty of time to dig into AutoDesk.

Re: Drive Train
 

I agree with your teacher there will most likely be challenges like that for us in the future. So I suggest that you look at some of the different vehicles the military has developed for just that task. Tank treads seem to be the main reoccuring theme even in their robots.

Here's a start
http://a.abcnews.com/images/Technolo..._080227_mn.jpg

Re: Drive Train
 

That has got to be the coolest thing I've seen all day.

-Nick

Re: Drive Train
 

This terrain question may be very appropriate this year. There were ramps or other changes in elevation in the field in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2006 (as far as I can tell from the game descriptions). Lunacy had an altered surface, but I don't think that it qualifies as a change in terrain. I would think that game designers could easily be looking at a change in terrain as a key component of the game for 2010 since most of the students will not have seen this yet.

Re: Drive Train
 

Believe it or not, all 8 wheels had custom spinners:cool: