4wd

[Lisa]

Our robot currently has 2WD with drill motors, but it is incredibly weak. I want to convert it to 4wd. How easily can this be done?

[SpaceOsc]

well the jumps not to hard

you say you got 2wd but its weak? umm interesting

well obviously sprocket and new chain is needed and then you have to have a off set of the wheels for the chain, and then you must align it all, the jumps very doable but you come across other problems

well depends on your wheel choice really but once you make the jump you be working on Tank drive and if your wheel base is to long then you wont be able to turn at all and if you have high traction wheels you wont be have to turn at all you'll just be dancing around all over the place and thats bad thing lol

everything you all ready have but double it that the difference

more weight

more traction

more control

more work

but the jumps worth it if you can get it to turn right if you don't have high traction wheels then you should be fine as for the weak drive you might consider different gearing if thats possible

but the 4wd should be able to provide much more go on your bot


-Oscar-

Tell me how it works out

[Lauren Hafford]

the only advantage i can see to 4w v 2w with the same motors is there will be a more even distribution of weight over the driving wheels. However, one thing to look at is your gearing. did you use the gearboxes given in the kit? and what gear are you in on the drill? i haven't used those gearboxes (we're building our own) but it's worth looking at the gear ratio to see if that's where the problem is. what is the speed that your wheels are going (when they're freely spinning)? then you multilply that by the circumfrence of the wheel to get your ground speed. In my opinion, it should be around 6-9 feet per sec. this should give you enough pushing power. If your speed is too high, your pushing force is too low and your bot will be weak. just gear down the output shaft with sprockets that go to your wheel (s).

hope that helps

lauren