View Single Post
  #13   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 06-01-2009, 08:18
ZakuAce's Avatar
ZakuAce ZakuAce is offline
Registered User
AKA: Garrett
FRC #2077 (Laser Robotics (Alumni))
Team Role: College Student
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Rookie Year: 2007
Location: Delafield,Wisconsin
Posts: 198
ZakuAce is a glorious beacon of lightZakuAce is a glorious beacon of lightZakuAce is a glorious beacon of lightZakuAce is a glorious beacon of lightZakuAce is a glorious beacon of light
Re: 4WD Turning Difficulties

Quote:
Originally Posted by SWIM View Post
I believe the FIRST colloquial term would be "swerve drive". edit: apparently not

The major obstacle in your way is probably going to be replacing the chain-drive with shafts and gears. Also, CV joints would likely be involved. Making the steering rack it's self wouldn't be too bad, but the whole system would add a couple layers of complexity to what needs to be the most reliable part of your robot.

While turning, you'd be able to make more efficient use of your traction, and it would be far more controllable at speed. Whether that's worth the extra complexity, weight, and motors depends on what your team finds important in a drivetrain.

edit: come to think of it, you could use a single CIM to drive all four wheels, and a CIM to power the steering rack. that could potentially be a pretty good solution, but you'd need two or three limited-slip differentials for it to handle properly, and I think andymark is fresh out of those...
Would it be possible to do the car steering with half a swerve drive (the front wheels), then have the rear wheels powered normally?

Also if you wanted to put more weight in the back to reduce the moment the trailer creates, would it not then be a good idea to use rear wheel steering?

Last edited by ZakuAce : 06-01-2009 at 08:20.