This year, we decided to go with some COTS pneumatic wheels to give us an extreme amount of traction. However, we are having some difficulty with turning (as you might guess). I believe the design of the robot is solid, we are just missing something in the execution. In low gear (about 3.5ft/sec) the robot turns perfectly. In high gear (about 13.5 ft/sec) the robot turns decently, occasionaly it trips a breaker, most high gear turns need to be made as part of a fluid motion with driving forwards.
Here is what we have:
8 wheel drive with these:
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/ERW...PE1?Pid=search
The two (per side) center wheels are dropped 1/4 inch
The turning base is 24 inches wide from center to center of the wheels, and it is 13.5 inches in length from center to center.
For those that have experience with pneumatic wheels, I am looking to what types of modifications will increase handling. Right now, all i can think of is switching out wheels and air pressure. On the air pressure note: I am having a hard time finding a pump with a gauge that will read in the 20-35psi range.