Fordson V8 cog - Snow Machine
@ February 6, 2012
- Actuators / output devices: GM motors
- Control method: Xbee Wireless remote control
- CPU: 80Mhz 8-Core Parallax Propeller
- Operating system: Spin
- Power source: 7.4V 28C Lipo
- Programming language: Spin
- Target environment: Snow and Very Cold environments ..ie cold enough to freeze a monkeys bottom
I present a novel locomotion system which comes into its own when there is snow around.
I was inspired by a couple of videos of a Fordson tractor & Chevrolet car.... circa 1929 and it showed a spiral track system which could just be bolted onto virtual any chassis that had an engine......allowing the "Vehicle" to traverse snow/marsh/water with ease.
My original project started a year ago..... Swiss snows vanished (so patience ensued)... (during the wait ....youtubies made my original probe video (see last video below) my most Favorited Video ... i knew then that i could not drop the project)...
SNOW ARRIVES :- With already too many projects underway the Snows came again and -13°C temperatures .....YAY Priority Interrupt plan "C" was instigated.
So enough Ramble here is the system :-
Warning ....if you suffer from Cryo-phobia then close your eyes duing the snowman scenes.
System Breakdown (Priority first) :-
- Fanta drink bottles 0.5 liters ....... can be scaled up to 2 litres if someone will sponsor me the bits
- Coloured Spiral PolyMorph Tracks
- GM yellow elbowed motors with unused (at momo) encoders
- Parallax Propeller MCU (M44D40+)
- Xbee RX & TX
- Atmel MCU and hacked radio control for TX unit
- L293D H-Bridge motor driver controlled with PWM signals
- 2 cell Lipo battery - regulated to 5V of motors and 3.3V for propeller and XBEE
- 2 cell Lipo battery as counter-balance (its all i had to hand for the video and photo shoot)
- Various bits of wood and dowel rod
- 3 clothes pegs
- 5 velcro cable tidy_ers
- 1 Evil not to be trusted looking snowman
- 1 selfmade Igloo
The secret fastening devises revealed (could be LMR first) :-
Best to stay in Deep freeze Garage !!
@ -13°c i had a problem with the sealed bottles contracting with the cold (once even discombooberating the polymorph spiral off the plastic bottle wall)..... To run the system i have to bring the whole robot out into the cold with bottle tops open to atmosphere .... then when the temperature of the air inside and outside the bottles equalize ....seal the tops back on again......not your general run of the mill Omni-wheel problem..
Tracks are as-symmentrical :-
Attempt to climb the Matterhorn failed ....... not due to traction .... but pilot error (see out-takes in Video)
In conclusion :- Its real fun to drive on the Piste
@ Sun, 2012-02-19 16:29
remindes me of
remindes me of this
http://www.rcmania.com/reviews/tyco-terrain-twister/
@ Sun, 2012-02-19 17:09
Yes these are cool
Yes i have seen these tycos a while back, they are indeed pretty neat....and v.neat price eekk
@ Wed, 2012-02-08 01:23
Glad to see this project lives
Seasonal robots, I understand :) Great revisitation of old but interesting tech, A+.
@ Tue, 2012-02-07 12:02
cheers!
brilliant! brilliant as a diamond!
@ Tue, 2012-02-07 06:05
You are the man Gareth, well
You are the man Gareth, well done.
For the spirals I would suggest something with a sharp edge like copper or aluminium sheets (I know it's hard to bedn around the bottles) or even a plastic hose pierced with nails to get more grip.
Also you could fill the bottles with something (oil, dry sand etc.) to increase the pressure to the snow.
@ Tue, 2012-02-07 11:34
Anti freeze
Tnx lumi......
I am stuck 2 ways here ..... for powder snow it needs to be light, and ice and compact snow it need to be heavy.
I have thought about Antifreeze.......or some kind of moonshine/alcohol
@ Wed, 2012-02-08 06:22
Saw the videos after i wrote
Saw the videos after i wrote my comment. Yes, antifreeze is good. You just have to find the balance for to light and to heavy...find the middle ;-)
@ Mon, 2012-02-06 21:18
Very interesting system ...
... as always great work Gareth!
The polismurf skills are outstanding as always ;)
@ Tue, 2012-02-07 01:11
i think he wrote the book on poliSmurf
:)
@ Tue, 2012-02-07 01:04
yes.. yet another great work!
yes.. yet another great work!