Re: Lynx Scooter drive system [TANKS]

["Marc en Wendy" <marcmethorst-at-zonnet.nl>]



Todd wrote:

 

> I have been wondering if this single motor and drive system will work on a tank.  Since it has a differential drive axle, wouldn't a simple brake on each drive sprocket work to steer it?  Or is it more complicated than that?

I have been thinking the same. I can't show it with numbers but my guess is that it is not an efficient way of using energy. Driving full speed and then constantly braking one of two tracks will cost a lot of energy. Not the driving energy, but the friction and holding energy of the slowed down track is the killer in my opinion.

 

There are electromagnetic brakes available for wheelchair motors for parking brake purposes, but I don't know how they'll hold up doing constant braking.

The other way is hydraulic brakes of course, but I doubt that a servo is strong enough to push some sort of lever or pedal to bring one shaft completely to a halt. A hydraulic pump is then needed to produce the braking power, which will take a lot of energy from the battery.

 

My two cents: if you want simple, use two motors. If you want innovation: go ahead, I'm looking forward to the pictures! It hasn't been done in the hobby, so you could be the proud inventor of the ''HDS'' (Hutchins Drive System), the standard in R/C Tank Combat in 2008!!

 

Marc

The Netherlands