This is the 8 wheel prototype team 1625 has been working on for the past few weeks. One wheel is driven straight off of the gearbox, and chains run from the sprockets on that axle to the other wheel assemblies on that side, as pictured above. The wheel assemblies are half inch steel axles with two 21 tooth sprockets welded to them and a 3" colson pressed on the end. They slide through two bearings in the frame tube and have a snap ring on the back side. The chains are currently just tensioned by the proper center to center distance, but on the next iteration we plan to use bigger wheels to allow for ground clearance with idler sprocket tensioners. There is also an extended section of the gearbox shaft to allow for easy encoder mounting.
Specifications:
3/16" Center Wheel Drop
13.5 Feet Per Second Calculated Speed
Single Speed Gearbox
41 Pounds With Electronics
3" by 7/8" Colson Wheels