Quote:
Originally posted by Jnadke
A few feet can mean the difference between being on the cliff and being off the edge of the cliff.... how about we add a human element and put you in that jeep? Not so sure now, are we?
Here's a few things to consider for those who are still serious (my post was bring out the reality and see if you really were intent on doing this):
1. The raw distance between Las Vegas and Las Angeles is 400 miles. This distance could be longer depending on the course. Most SUV's only average 20 mpg, so you'd need lots of fuel.
2. This distance has to be covered in 10 hours, including refill time. The vehicle is going to have to be travelling at 30-40 MPH on average.
3. Vehicles built for off-road are key. Anything that competes is going to have to be built to last. 250 miles of off-roading is not good for an open gearbox (like most FIRST robots). Large vehicles (such as a Jeep/SUV) have a disadvantage on curvy roads where they may need to traverse it slower than smaller, wider vehicles.
Just a few ideas... Obviously whatever system is used will probabaly look much like a dune buggy. A small, lightweight vehicle that has a wide wheelbase so that it can turn through tight corners. You'll want large tires and a suspension. Fuel economy is key. Electric motors won't provide the distance if they're solely powered by batteries. A gas/diesel system would be much more difficult to create, but it would provide a much better energy density for the fuel. Lastly, sensors are a big part. Ultrasonic object detection and avoidance at minimum probabaly. More sophisticated systems would include GPS, topographical course plotting system, or an optical sensing system.
I'm beginning to think it might be easier to break into Columbia/Tristar Studios and steal Johnny Five (Short Circuit).
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1. I'm not sure what SUV you drive but my 99 4x4 Auto Ford Ranger gets 13.4 MPG and my dad's 96 4x4 Auto Cherokee (that he used to have) got 18 MPG at best.
2. You wouldn't refill. Too difficult. Just carry enough fuel to begin with.
3. Agreed.
Last: Dune buggies are only 2wd though and those air cooled VW engines might not make it in the heat. You could go with a custom powertrain. Wheelbase is long, track is wide. Large tires and a beefy suspension are a must. although not at all difficult to implement. I would even argue to have beadlock wheels and perhaps a HUMMER style CTIS system. Electric motors would work when powered by a diesel generator but why? Much more costly and time consuming to build for hardly any benefit. Diesel engines run more reliably that gas ones however you could use a newer gas powered vehicle with a car computer to monitor systems. For sensing and navigation I think a GPS, stereoscopic cameras and a laser scanning system would get the job done.
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Teacher/Engineer/Machinist - Team 696 Circuit Breakers, 2011 - Present
Mentor/Engineer/Machinist, Team 968 RAWC, 2007-2010
Technical Mentor, Team 696 Circuit Breakers, 2005-2007
Student Mechanical Leader and Driver, Team 696 Circuit Breakers, 2002-2004
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