Synchro drive prototype
Synchro drive prototype
Author's Notes
Posted By NXTBoy on 09/11/2008

This is a POV-Ray of a prototype Synchro Drive. It was modelled using MLCad, and converted using L3pao.

A Synchro drive uses two motors such that one motor drives all four wheels, and the other spins all four turntables. The motors can be run simultaneously, resulting in curved movements. One of the main features is that the chassis will always face the same direction.
There is a good reason that the wheels are off-centered: When the turntable turn, the wheels also receive the power of the turntable, and by keeping them at the edge, the chassis stays stationary. Unfortunately, this can result in instability (and in this case, did).

.mpd file, with full instructions, is attached

Comments (9)

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#1 silcantar
Posted on 09/11/2008
Nice Job with the MLCAD! Why exactly are the wheels off-center? It seems to me that the chassis would move when turning the wheels if they were off-center. They would have to be centered if you didn’t want the chassis to turn.
#2 NXTBoy
Posted on 09/12/2008
The idea is that the wheels turn in the opposite direction to the turntables,so the centre of the turntable remains staionary.
#3 megamindstorm101
Posted on 09/12/2008
wow this is really good. I might attempt to build it. i dont understand how people use gears so i almost never use gears.
#4 NXTBoy
Posted on 09/12/2008
Thanks for the comments.

Unfortunately the wheel assemblies need a re-design: the robot comically falls over in the position shown in the picture!
#5 megamindstorm101
Posted on 09/12/2008
yeah even so then i might just wait for the actual one instead of looking at the prototype. anyways this is a really great robot and deffinatly better than anything i could do.
#6 silcantar
Posted on 09/13/2008
I would suggest moving the wheels to the center of the parts that rotate and moving the NXT to the center of the robot. That way the center of gravity is in the middle of the wheelbase.
#7 NXTBoy
Posted on 09/14/2008
My friend found a solution: by putting idling wheels on the opposite side of the turntables to the driven ones, the robot remains upright. Unfortunately, this robot was not suitable for what I had in mind
#8 megamindstorm101
Posted on 11/09/2008
how many turntables does this have. I only have two i hope thats enough
#9 NXTBoy
Posted on 12/24/2008
Sorry, it needs at least 4, and should have 5. To build this, my friend had to use my turntable, his turntable, his other turntable, his brother’s turntable, and our FLL team’s turntable. I will try and find and attach the photos of the real version, minus the motors and NXT (We realised we should photograph it after we started to demolish it).

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