HELP: Voltage Drop

[Joe Johnson]

Originally Posted by pujan824

I agree adding air to the center to get the rock would solve the problem. Except in our case we don't have any tubes in our tires. Rather filled them with pool noodles. So the solution isnt that easy

Ok, I have another idea that can probably get you running today. Gets some good cloth gaffer's tape and put about 1/8"-1/4" around the outside of the center wheels. The tape will unwind in one direction, so make it so that your primary pushing direction tends to wind the tape and not unwind it. Good Gaffer's tape may just hold but if it starts to unwind, rewrap the tire and put another piece of tape over the end of the wrapped tape that goes over the sides of the tire and then use screws to attach this tape to the tire (don't look at me like that -- driving screws into wheels is a time honored FIRST tradition ;-)

It is a kluge but it gets you running today. Longer term you want to find a way to get a larger, less grippy tire on the center axle. But this lets you get some driver practice in, lets you test out the rest of your robot, and gets you in the bag with at least a direction that you can implement while you wait for your first competition.

Dr. Joe J.