Locomotion experiment- rotary walker
@ January 12, 2012
- Target environment: gravel terrain
The gravel used in the Top of the Hill event at the NRC makes it hard for robots to maneuver. Wheels are likely to sink in, and treads will often jam with gravel. This is why I experimented with this weird type of locomotion, known as rotary walking. My goal was to allow a robot to easily cross gravel. Although I did not invent this type of locomotion, I did change the angles of the wheels and connecting rods from previous methods, and I believe this to be one of the first documented attempts.
Design elements:
-The bars between the wheels spread out the robot’s weight, allowing it to cross shifting and unstable terrain. Adding more bars will add surface area, as would widening the bars.
-Made from foam between two sheets of PVC, if I was to use this as base for a robot it would be sturdy yet light.
-If one motor goes out for some reason the platform is still functional, as one motor alone can drive a side.
**I now have a much much improved verson that I have uploaded at http://letsmakerobots.com/node/30740
The biggest improvement was changing the front to allow for larger obstical clearance. Also the distance between the wheels themselves is greater on my new verson so the platform is more stable. Oh, and now its RC, so no more walking behind it with wires trailing (ik- not a real robot but I don't have a microcontroller)
@ Wed, 2012-02-01 01:24
Hey that's so cool !
Hey that's so cool !
@ Fri, 2012-01-13 10:21
WOWOWOW great design, I hope
WOWOWOW great design, I hope you share with us more details. Collected and added to RoboBucketList :D
@ Fri, 2012-01-13 09:54
super nice. very
super nice. very interesting.
@ Fri, 2012-01-13 09:46
You nailed this one, dude.
10 outta 10 on the whole bit.
Form and function are 100%. Period.
Any chance I can get a close-up of the pivots (for the slats) on the wheels? I gotta make one of these for myself. I'll do it out of plexi and if I get a working model, I swear I will send you one in any color you like.
Awesome robot.
@ Fri, 2012-01-13 21:54
I uploaded the next-gen
I uploaded the next-gen verson of this, and that has a video which shows the old slat design. It was actueally really poorly put together- but my new verson is better and thats probably the design I would recomend if you made one yourself. you can see it here: http://letsmakerobots.com/node/30740
@ Fri, 2012-01-13 08:31
Omg
You are an arty. I see it!
@ Fri, 2012-01-13 06:52
Wow! you got some nice work
Wow! you got some nice work there!!
@ Fri, 2012-01-13 00:44
Love it!
You are a boy genius. Beautiful design of locomotion. Perhaps with enough flotation good propulsion in water too?
@ Fri, 2012-01-13 02:41
yes! I was thinking about
yes! I was thinking about that. Maybe another day...
@ Fri, 2012-01-13 00:41
yes
wow that's cool too