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tank treads
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wilko



Joined: 25 Sep 2005
Posts: 133
Location: Ballina N.S.W


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tank treads

info on tank treads
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Post Thu Nov 24, 2005 7:38 pm 
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wilko



Joined: 25 Sep 2005
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Location: Ballina N.S.W


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how come nobody uses tank treads
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Post Thu Nov 24, 2005 7:39 pm 
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dyrodium
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their hard to make properly... check out the "pod" build thread thats a recent bot being built using them, and you'll see why we tend not to use them lol Smile
Their way cool though!
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Post Thu Nov 24, 2005 8:09 pm 
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Spockie-Tech
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Joined: 31 May 2004
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They also dont offer many advantages other (than the "way cool" factor), and a do have a heap of disadvantges.

The main purpose of tracks is to spread a high weight load (like a tank or tractor) over a higher area on soft ground that cant support high PSI loads.. like sand, mud or some other terrain that a wheel would get bogged in, with the load spread out, the tracks are less likely to sink.

They dont offer any traction benefit, on hard flat ground, and in some cases may even reduce it, since (I think, its a complex subject) that rubber needs a certain amount of weight to "deform" it and make it grip even slightly textured surfaces with maximum force.

They are *heavy* and very intricate with a lot of things that have to be perfect or they will fall-off, break, jam and so on. Not many people (except george Smile ) would have the patience to fiddle them into working when you can just slap a wheel on any old how, crooked and all and still move. slightly crooked treads and they will fall off straight away.

They probably use a lot more power when turning since 90% of the tread is being scrubbed sideways, although this *may* be offset by their lower surface-area/loading (again, a contentious subject)

One advantage is they are are harder to "high side" (get stuck with drive wheels in the air) that wheels, although 6WD (or even 4WD) probably is good enough for most of our applications.

They're a lot more subject to damage and harder to repair then just bunging another wheel on.

and so on and so on.

Of course, for "that looks cool" factor, they are hard to beat, and this outweighs all the disadvantages for a lot of people. in fact, probably a high percentage of otherwise average tracked bots probably made it onto TV shows just because of their cool looks.

An easy way out might be to just stretch a big inside-out rubber timing belt around a 4WD robot with a few guide rails to keep it in place.
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Last edited by Spockie-Tech on Thu Nov 24, 2005 10:39 pm; edited 2 times in total

Post Thu Nov 24, 2005 8:58 pm 
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Big AL
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Joined: 16 Oct 2004
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aye but for an ultra bot comp they would be perfect.
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Post Thu Nov 24, 2005 9:56 pm 
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Nexus
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There are a few negatives about tracks but if u know them b4 u begin u can design around them.
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Last edited by Nexus on Fri Nov 25, 2005 4:48 pm; edited 1 time in total

Post Fri Nov 25, 2005 12:58 pm 
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Big AL
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got any plans for how you made yours or ones that are similer if you don't want to give up your design.

btw in the ultra bot comp do tracked bots get added bonuses? and do walkers get bonuses too?
hmmmmmmm something like an ultralisk off starcraft might emerge, i gotta stop playing it so much Very Happy
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Post Fri Nov 25, 2005 2:59 pm 
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wilko



Joined: 25 Sep 2005
Posts: 133
Location: Ballina N.S.W


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i was going to turn a belt (out of a car engine) inside out and use it but my freind said tank treads r gay and wheels get mor traction, turn better and r more simple and slow the robot down
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Post Fri Nov 25, 2005 3:15 pm 
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wilko



Joined: 25 Sep 2005
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Location: Ballina N.S.W


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plus he think two belts will take up most of the weight
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Post Fri Nov 25, 2005 3:16 pm 
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dyrodium
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totaly... its like trying to use sewing string for belts... aint going to work mister. Razz
Actualy to be honest i can't think of a winning robot which uses tanktreads... (insects dont count lol)
101 did pretty good but never won and event... Confused
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Post Fri Nov 25, 2005 3:38 pm 
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Nexus
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BTW I am not trying to build a winning machine,
Robot Combat is made up of 2 words, i focus more on the robot side of it.
Sure it would be great if everyone had a powerful spinner, or would it?
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Post Fri Nov 25, 2005 3:45 pm 
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Glen
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well as for the timing belts as tracks

A) they are hard rubber so youll get no traction and

B) you cant stretch them between two pulleys as the flanges on the pulleys would contact the ground first..

what about SOW it has metal tracks with neodynium magnets behind them..

btw george is POD a fighting robot or just a nice show piece?
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Post Fri Nov 25, 2005 3:53 pm 
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wilko



Joined: 25 Sep 2005
Posts: 133
Location: Ballina N.S.W


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i was going to use belts as treads thats the whole reason i started this topic
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Post Fri Nov 25, 2005 4:03 pm 
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Rotwang
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Joined: 15 Jun 2004
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Location: Vic


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Mortis won a few fights in its day too. Smile

There are other threads that mention tracks and one thing that was decided long ago is that rubber belts stretched between a couple of wheels that will touch the ground if the belt comes off are not eligible for a weight bonus even if the event organizer decides to give a weight bonus for trackes.

Post Sat Nov 26, 2005 8:58 am 
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wilko



Joined: 25 Sep 2005
Posts: 133
Location: Ballina N.S.W


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what if u dont need a weight bonus
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Post Sat Nov 26, 2005 9:19 am 
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