Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid

[JosephC]

Could we get a top down view?

[dodar]

Wait, the slot near the big wheel looks the same size as the other side. Can this thing flip 180 degrees?

[MichaelBick]

Originally Posted by SuperNerd256

Correct me if I'm wrong, but smaller wheels don't give you more torque. They do reduce the distance traveled per rotation but there should be same amount of rotational force on the shaft, regardless of wheel size. While they are probably geared differently, there's no advantage that I can see of having different sized wheels for different speeds or more torque. A shifter would accomplish that without the need for an extra wheel.

Smaller wheels will give you more torque. Think of a wheel like a pinion on a rack, except there is no teeth. IF you reduce the pinion size you get more torque but less speed.

Is this the completed assembly? Another guess of mine is that in addition to having different speeds, based on which wheel is touching the ground, you could have different wheel bases. So basically, in one orientation(likely the one with the higher speed) you have a smaller wheel base, therfore you can turn easily. On the other hand, when the other wheel is touching the ground(likely the lower speed), you will have a larger wheel base and therefor it will be harder for you opponents to turn you.

[aboppana]

Originally Posted by MICHAELABICK

Smaller wheels will give you more torque. Think of a wheel like a pinion on a rack, except there is no teeth. IF you reduce the pinion size you get more torque but less speed.

This is how I usually think of it.

Anyways, is there a reason you are using belts and not gears for this? Is it for a more quiet operation?

Are the wheels of different material? Is one grippy for more traction but one slippery for ease of turning? Maybe this isn't a swerve, but a fixed unit and you have the slippery wheels to ease turning a 4-wheel long bot. But I doubt its as simple as this

[MichaelBick]

Is it a 2 speed transmission where you shift which wheel is on the ground to shift the speed?

[DanielDTech]

Originally Posted by DanielDTech

If anyone can correctly guess what this is, I solemnly swear that I will send you $15.00 on paypal before kickoff.

Here's a top view for ya

[Kevin Selavko]

While driving one way it uses one of the wheels, when it reverses the belt/wheel setup pivots around to go onto the other wheel with a different torque/speed.

[Siri]

For viewing convenience:
Renders: here and here

DanielDTech in blue

1. The CIM motor isn't wasted at all
2. This is not only an interesting design, but a revolutionary one, in and beyond FRC
   
3. Yes, both wheels are simultaneously powered
   
4. ...This does indeed have something to do with shifting, I'll tell you that. But there's something HUGE that you guys are missing...
   
   
5. A and B are wrong. C is partially correct!
   A. Both "wheels" touch the ground at the same time
   B. The "wheels" aren't actually for driving
   C. The whole assembly pivots back and forth. This would work well for bumpy fields/ off road applications outside of FIRST
   
   
6. ...yes, it's just the angle. Both wheels are actuated as a matter of fact.
   While the guess that it is a shifting wheel, as it stands right now it doesn't appear that either of the wheels are actuated (Might just be the angle).
   
   
7. That is the closest guess yet. But again, you're missing something huge... The part that I think is pretty difficult for anyone to guess, otherwise I wouldn't put $15 bucks on it
   So it's like Octocanum but switching between two traction wheels (for different speeds/wheelbases).
   
   
8. You are on track, but still very wrong. This is certainly revolutionary, keep in mind that there is a HUGE concept that you're not seeing here.
   This is one quarter of a wheel-shifting drivetrain, where two different types of wheel can be changed at will, or used for climbing. Again, I don't think this is exactly revolutionary for FRC--similar things have been done on several occasions.
   
   
9. Indeed, it is aesthetically pleasing and it does not flip. But don't totally throw away the pivoting idea
   I don't think it flips 180...
   
   
10. You are 100% wrong
    I'm probably 100% wrong but it could possibly be that you have an 8WD narrowed down to a single module.
    
    
11. I don't have the pivoting setup on here... This is about 30% of the actual mechanism.
    Is this thing self-pivoting? Or do you just not have the pivoting setup in this model?
    
    
12. You're missing nearly everything. Like I said, this is about 30% of the mechanism. It's not at all what you guys think it is.
    Automatic load balancing/switching between pushing force and higher speed? A CVT in there somewhere? Most of the device is shown in the render. I don't see any mystery really. I must be missing something here.
    
    
13. Very nice guesses! The unit is indeed very compact and light; it needs to be, since there will be more than one on the robot. But the big secret here is actually much simpler than any of these great educated guesses.
    It also looks like it is meant to be mounted through a hole in a sheet metal [or plywood] base/pan...Maybe this is to simplify frame design? (Just a pan with 4 wheel holes?) ... Or maybe it could be mounted in a lazy susan and used as a crab module? ... Another aspect I see is that the Cim is off center. Perhaps some sort of a counterweight? ... If you tossed a tread on the wheel, you'd already have a spare wheel you could toss in.
    
    
14. In part, yes!
    A dual wheel rocker where each wheel is a different speed with an automatic shifter mechanism?
    Editor's note: raise your hand if you're surprised this was JVN, that he got the first "yes" guess or that the first word in the post was "Simpsons"
    
    
15. It definitely doesn't pivot that much
    Well is looks like it definitely flips in the direction of the larger wheel with the larger wheel traveling under to other side raising the small wheel way up in the air and flips the CIM completely to the other side...
    
    
16. Nope
    The drive will lift up the chassis and be able to traverse a step or bump.
    

[/ImTooMethodical] I'll guess later.

[Akash Rastogi]

Is your mechanism inside the wheels? Internal gearing/anything?

*begins to lose interest*

[apalrd]

I believe he's missing the encoder.

Don't forget your sensors.

[Cory]

"Hey guys, check out this super awesome thing I made, which is exactly what multiple teams made 8-9 years ago, with some revolutionary component missing. You have no possible way of guessing what is missing because I've given you absolutely no details, but I will string this thread along for the next month because it's fun to have lots of people wondering what my (not so) revolutionary design will be"

Does that about cover it?

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by Cory

"Hey guys, check out this super awesome thing I made..."

Does that about cover it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...LzPqo1qfU#t=4s

[DanielDTech]

Originally Posted by Cory

"Hey guys, check out this super awesome thing I made, which is exactly what multiple teams made 8-9 years ago, with some revolutionary component missing. You have no possible way of guessing what is missing because I've given you absolutely no details, but I will string this thread along for the next month because it's fun to have lots of people wondering what my (not so) revolutionary design will be"

Does that about cover it?

Hey guys, check out this extremely super awesome thing I made, which is not not exactly what multiple teams made 8-9 years ago, with some revolutionary and simple component missing. You have little way of guessing what is missing because I've given you very little details, but I will string this thread along for the next month because it's fun to have lots of people wondering what my extremely revolutionary drive mechanism will be.

I've made some edits, please review.

[Ed Law]

Originally Posted by Cory

"Hey guys, check out this super awesome thing I made, which is exactly what multiple teams made 8-9 years ago, with some revolutionary component missing. You have no possible way of guessing what is missing because I've given you absolutely no details, but I will string this thread along for the next month because it's fun to have lots of people wondering what my (not so) revolutionary design will be"

Does that about cover it?

Cory, I am with you. I have absolutely no interest in this guessing game. Why am I posting? I have absolutely nothing better to do. This is a guy who just joined CD the day he posted this so this is his first post. Here is a 17 year old who is probably a senior this year and a team captain and this is his 4th year in FRC. Why is everybody else posting? Definitely not for the $15.

And why should I be afraid? Is it because if your robot is on the field, then mine should not even be used because yours is that awesome.

[dcarr]

I believe this post was intended to generate hype...but the response being generated isn't exactly what I'd call hype. It's just not the nature of CD. "Be afraid" -- really? This isn't really how folks share ideas in this community, but it's interesting. Good luck with the design, and I hope you're well into the fabrication and testing phase for your prototype if you have any plans of using this in 2013.