pic: 2003 TechnoKat Ball Drive : Patent Pending

[Jnadke]

Originally posted by Gope
How does this work. I've read the whole thread but noone has taken the time to really explain the system, someone please explain it to me....thanks

The omniwheels are like regular wheels but those rubber things on there allow them to spin sideways. If you don't understand how they work, do a search or ask and I will explain further.

Anyways, the ball portion, if you look at it, is connected to the main drive gearbox, powered by a drill motor. The drill motor drives the ball forward/backward, and spins the omni-wheels forward and backward. Theorhetically it should drive much like a standard 2 wheel drive robot if this was all they had.

However, if you look, the chiaphua motors are on the side of the balls, and spin them sideways, giving the robot a horizontal force. When the robot is at a standstill, if you drive the chiaphuas, the balls will propel the robot sideways. The omniwheels, having those easy-spinning rubber things, will just follow the direction of the balls and will act like a translational drive.

When the robot is moving, and you drive the balls, from the sound of what Baker said, the robot will behave much like a car. It won't move sidways, but the front of the robot will turn to point at a new direction. Basically, it's like stopping with a traditional tank drive, turning to point in a new direction, and going again. The difference is they can do this on-the-fly.


I haven't seen it in action, so I am not positive on this. I am only going off what I see in the picture and what was said.

Originally posted by Gope
Also, I might just be imagining this, but didn't i read somewhere that you had to compete with the robot that you check in? If so then you guys wouldn't have the option of using the second bot, right?

Yes, and no. They do allow you to make your robot modular. You have to pass inspection with every module subset you plan to use in place. Technically, this is one big module in reference to the Robot Controller. I don't really see any difference. Just as long as they can meet Rule K3, under $3500, with both robots then I'm happy.

Originally posted by Jeremy_Mc
Personally, (not criticizing) but i think that takes away from the community. Patenting a drive train makes it a little awkward if a team makes a drive system somewhat similar, and then somehow it ends up they sue them over it or something. I'm not saying they would, but if they wouldn't, then why patent?

I think we have a misconception here on what a patent is. A patent doesn't prevent someone from using an idea altogether. It just prevents someone from benefitting/making money off it. You can still use the design for your use. However, if a company wants to put it into a product and sell it, then they have to pay the TechnoKats.