Rookie Team’s front wheel for Overdrive
Wow, ackerman steering, I’m looking forward to 2468’s robot at Lone Star. Its great to see Austin explode with FRC teams this year!
It’s not quite Ackermann steering, because the geometry is not set up quite right (notice the line from the spindle pivot to the tie rod pivot is parallel to the wheel), but it should work ok, since the wheels can’t steer very far because of the frame being in the way.
Might want to see about using some smaller wheels like 4" Colsons? then it might steer more sharply.
I like the simple spindle!
The term Ackerman steering may be getting used a bit loosely. Ackerman steering has to do with the relationships of the pivots of the steerig linkage to provide a common turning center for all the wheel. It is a little difficult from just this picture to see if they have true Ackerman steering.
Team 2468
If you notice some tough turning or dramatic slowing occurring while turning look up Ackerman principles and try to apply them to your machine. We built up a trial chassis this way. It was nice, but I think we will go a different direction for our actual robot.
Good LucK! Make sure you drive it on carpet as it may behave very differently than on concrete.
With how short the wheelbase is on these robots, it’s obvious to me that it does not have Ackermann geometry…mainly because we built one that did, and the steering arms have to be angled very far over to make it happen.