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Unread 05-01-2009, 00:48
gburlison gburlison is offline
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Re: Commets on these drive trains

Quote:
Originally Posted by nitsua60 View Post
I might argue that you want it out of balance -- in the opposite direction than you mention -- to take some of the trailer's weight onto the robot wheels. A big theme has been about how to increase the normal force and gain traction....
So just to make sure I understand your point.
Assume the trailer has a tongue weight of 5 pounds.
Build a two wheel drive bot with a third wheel opposite the trailer and balance the bot such that the third wheel has 5 pounds of weight.
Attach the trailer, then the front wheel has no weight and therefore no traction.
All of the robot weight and the tongue weight of the trailer is now on the two drive wheels.

I am trying to figure out the CONS to this approach.
It seems that pushing the trailer would be more difficult, but since it is going to be difficult anyway I don't think many driver will be pushing unless they have to.
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