looking for pics of tracked robots

[amos229]

preferably a picture of the drive base but the whole robot is alright. It doesnt matter what the year. I am looking for inspiration.

[Simon Strauss]

Take a look at the First mechanism library this in both the drivetrain and wheel sections it should help.

[=Martin=Taylor=]

I don't know what happened to their site, but team 61 used treads for 10 years and had lots of pictures. If anyone was an expert on treads it would be them. But there site seems to have vanished...

This was their site anyways...

I figure you've already looked through CD media, but here are my favorites:

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=25346

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/17058

Over the years I've also found some interesting Bercoflex alternatives:

http://www.fnsheppard.com/index.htm

http://www.robotcombat.com/store_tanktreads.html

http://www.mectrol.com/

[Tom Bottiglieri]

I wouldn't recommend using treads unless the game deems it absolutely necessary.

• They create alot of turning scrub and pretty much make your robot impossible to turn accurately. There are ways around this such as keeping the COG as close to the floor as possible and feedback control on the motors (ie Triplets), but for the most part they are just a hassle.
• EXPENSIVE! I believe the "truly endless" Brecoflex belts cost about 300 dollars EACH. You could get a whole set of IFI wheels and spares for that much.

If you decide to go with treads, I would not recommend buying Brecoflex belts. They are overpriced and not made very well at all. My team broke 15 of these treads this season. This particular brand may have held up well in 2002, but now-a-days they don't seem to last (whether it be a deterioration in build quality or the fact that everyone and their brother runs 4 torquey CIM motors for drive)

[sanddrag]

If there was stair/step climbingin the game, I could see the reason for it, but don't do it just for traction on flat surfaces. Youu can already get more than enough traction on carpet with just wheels.

[Jeff K.]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

If there was stair/step climbingin the game, I could see the reason for it, but don't do it just for traction on flat surfaces. Youu can already get more than enough traction on carpet with just wheels.

I totally agree. If you have a good 6WD or even 4WD design, you can take on tracked robots. The roughtop conveyor belt material can give you as much traction as tracks. It's just in how your design and gearing.

[yongkimleng]

You may wanna look at these:
(the pic is big so i'll just put a link)
http://jamesyong.net/rubbish/track/b...0assembled.JPG

more track photos here:
http://jamesyong.net/rubbish/track/

basically an approx 40x40cm bot, the first "large" bot I made back in 2004 weighing no more than 10kg. Tracks came from a kit. Hope you can get some ideas out of there.

[MattB703]

This one is simple but it has worked well for us for several years.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/20130

We drive one of the sprockets with a pinnion gear out of our tranny. (no chain)

[Qbranch]

'06 Robot:



'04 Robot:

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/img...1902167b_l.jpg

'03 Robot:

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/img...cfd16bee_l.jpg

I can give you more info on the different designs/ strenghts/shortfalls. PM me.

-Q

[Justin Boudreau]

I wanted to post a picture of Team 48 Delphi ELITE's 2004 robot, but it seems that their 2004 photo gallery isn't up right now.

This was was truly an inspiring robot, they had no problem whatsoever climbing the platform and getting in position for the hang. As a result these guys finshed as runner up at the 2004 Canadian Super-Regional.

Nice machine.

[John C]

my team tested a tread system for the 2003 season. it had 4 trucks with treads. the trucks pivoted on the drive axle to allow more surface contact when climbing the ramp.
there is a picture here:
http://www.roboraiders.com/img/index...picture&id=258
and here:
http://www.roboraiders.com/img/index...picture&id=275

the treads were removed after testing because they produced to much drag when turning. the tread material was wrapped around the drive wheels and cut making it 8 wheel drive.

[A_Reed]

our team has used brecoflex tank treads with great success and few broken treads over the past 3 yrs.(not 05')...I don't have pics of our 2004 robot but I have the same basic concept but in a modular form(below). There is one key to keeping your treads from breaking on a regular basis..it is to keep good tension on your treads...too much and they snap though...too little and they get caught and they tear...oh and to get rid of the scrubbing put a center ideler about 1/8 below tangent to the pitch of the toothed pulley to the ideler


This is basicly 2004's tread setup...I just recently redisigned it into a module


This is 2006's Tread Module