"Screw" Drive for FRC

[apples000]

Again, I'm not saying this is a design that's right for FRC, I'm just throwing it out there because I'm doing it for a mini demo robot. The single 775 design would never be used for FRC. This robot fits in a cubic foot box. My friend came up with the idea, and I was a little skeptical that it would work for the mini robot, so I searched and found this video, which I thought was cool.

As shown in the video, it is able to go sideways, but I believe that the gearboxes used in the real videos do not allow rotation like that, so it is only shown rolling sideways down the hill.

To answer Cory's questions, I think the advantage would be a drive that allows the robot to slide to the sides with (possibly) more traction than mecanum, but I'm not sure how much traction this would actually have. It's also simpler in the fact that it uses fewer motors/fewer gearboxes.

Teams probably haven't done this because there is a good chance it will not work very well, so they didn't take the risk. It is not extremely easy to make the parts, and I doubt any team could get the design right on the first try.

As for the surface, it does appear to work on solid ground in this video, so it may not need a deformable surface.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uftJ3JJQk4

[Tyler2517]

I remember seeing a toy rc car that used this type or population when i was really little.


Research yaaa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfYAFTCkkd0

I could see this being a strong FTC drive train when there is a large amount of small objects on the field.
You could also put the motors for movement in the screws. I don't think the tilt feature would really be needed.

[caboosev11]

I have a feeling this would be a little rough a on carpets.

[apples000]

Originally Posted by caboosev11

I have a feeling this would be a little rough a on carpets.

Why? If the thread were to be covered in tread, I believe it would work well. You would have a thinner contact area than a typical wheel, but you would contact the ground in multiple places.

[scca229]

Originally Posted by apples000

Why? If the thread were to be covered in tread, I believe it would work well. You would have a thinner contact area than a typical wheel, but you would contact the ground in multiple places.

If I'm not mistaken, doesn't a screw drive like this use the "slipping" of the screw thread along its length to achieve the forward momentum of the vehicle? Sure sideways would benefit with having tread along the edge of the thread (say that 5 times fast), but forward/backward would then suffer.

Am I right here? I've been Youtube walking through the videos showing this type of drive and pretty confident in my impression.

[asid61]

Originally Posted by Tyler2517

I remember seeing a toy rc car that used this type or population when i was really little.


Research yaaa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfYAFTCkkd0

I could see this being a strong FTC drive train when there is a large amount of small objects on the field.
You could also put the motors for movement in the screws. I don't think the tilt feature would really be needed.

HOLY COW I never even knew that existed.
I really hope this drive train gets made. It seems to have a few advantages, such as:
1. Small footprint. 4" on each side of the robot or even underneath it.
2. Only 2 gearboxes needed.
3. Omnidirectional, although you would want to test pushing power. I think it would get very good traction in the forward direction.

If it turns out to be more than a gimmick that would be cool.
McMaster sells some conveyor screws that might be suitable for prototyping, but they are expensive. You could put tread on the them with some modifications.

EDIT: Some creative lathe work could do it too.

[IndySam]

Always hopped they would bring the corn field back so we could try this out.

[Foster]

Originally Posted by IndySam

Always hopped they would bring the corn field back so we could try this out.

Is it too early to start a "2015 The Marsh Game" thread?

I think the damage to the carpet would get you asked to leave.

[Mr. B]

Maybe not in FIRST but, it has beem done--My son had one!

http://www.sndkids.com/hot-wheels-r-...&utm_campaign=