pic: Twin Fan Powered Vex Prototype#2

[Arkorobotics]

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[Tytus Gerrish]

ahh cool! does it work? where did those fans come from?

[Wetzel]

Can you reverse the direction of the fans?

Wetzel

As for steering, a servo controlled flap behind the fans, and putting an omni wheel on the front wheel would make steering like a boat possible.

For braking, a servo with a piece of rubber on the arm pressing onto a main axel, so once you disable the fans, the servo acts as a brake.

[Jeff K.]

Originally Posted by 114ManualLabor

For braking, a servo with a piece of rubber on the arm pressing onto a main axel, so once you disable the fans, the servo acts as a brake.

That is a work of VEX
lol

When you say main axle, do you mean rear axle, and are both wheels on the same axle?

[Arkorobotics]

The fans I got at Hobby People, they are High Power Lightweight FAN UNIT.

The Speed Controller clames to be reverseable but it doesn't do it on the VEX set.

The flap wont do much because the vex set itself is not really aerodynamic, but I will give it a shot.

The axes are seperate one axis for one wheel and one for the other.

[i like dirt]

Originally Posted by Arkorobotics

The fans I got at Hobby People, they are High Power Lightweight FAN UNIT.

The Speed Controller clames to be reverseable but it doesn't do it on the VEX set.

The flap wont do much because the vex set itself is not really aerodynamic, but I will give it a shot.

The axes are seperate one axis for one wheel and one for the other.

I think I have an idea to help you with your steering. But you're going to have to sacrifice your original 3 wheel design. I suggest you turn it into a 4 wheel drive and using a rack and pinion setup of gears turn it into a car drive.

[Dan Petrovic]

Originally Posted by i like dirt

I think I have an idea to help you with your steering. But you're going to have to sacrifice your original 3 wheel design. I suggest you turn it into a 4 wheel drive and using a rack and pinion setup of gears turn it into a car drive.

Or couldn't he just rotate the one front wheel he has now?

The tread would have to go back on that wheel, though

[Mike AA]

or, if another speed controller is acquired you could use the fans for steering. Slow one down as you turn its direction, kinda just like our larger robots...


-Mike

[1902_Battery_SGT]

for steering how about putting a servo on the front wheel?

[billbo911]

Originally Posted by Arkorobotics

The Speed Controller clames to be reverseable but it doesn't do it on the VEX set.

Read this reply I put on your first thread, it may help you with the speed controller issue and reverse.

[Arkorobotics]

Originally Posted by billbo911

Read this reply I put on your first thread, it may help you with the speed controller issue and reverse.

Yes! Your were right when you put it to neutral it stops then when you reverse it goes backwards, but not on full power. This means I can steer and brake by going backwards. W00t thanks so much! My plan B was to do it like jets when they land on aircraft carriers with that rope and hook idea. Thanks so much, I will try to get a video of it as soon as I can.

[bear24rw]

Are you using the stock motor on the fans?

[Morgan Gillespie]

As for steering you can do it the same way new cruise liners do it, rather than put a rudder behind the fan turn/angle the entire fan. This if done right would take -/= power to do that moving rudders or turning the front wheel. This technique has made cruise liners much more fuel efficient and is now standard, granted this is air, not water and fuel isn't your concern. It is still a way to solve the problem at hand.

[travis48elite]

I must say that is very initiative and cool! I would like to see that thing in action!