Maggie’s A real Game Changer- Tracked Wheels?

[hermosabeach]

A team from Carnegie Mellon University National Robotics Engineering Center (CMU NREC) demonstrated shape-shifting wheel-track mechanisms that transition from a round wheel to a triangular track and back again while the vehicle is on the move, for instant improvements to tactical mobility and maneuverability on diverse terrains

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Ok... that is awesome!

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[Mr.BR]

So now you have solid non inflatble wheel track which now weighs a ton costs even more and better not get dirty or clogged not to mention that the shape of triangle track is not somethign you would want for anything but flat packed snow, that is why is being demoed on a parking lot.

Lack of any aproach angle means that any slightly larger bump or rock on the road tries to tear the wheel off istead of it lfiting over it

 

[...]

i need a set of those on the Tacoma....

the fact that they can go from wheel to tread while in motion is pretty trick.

now they just need to fab up so when it senses wheel slip, it goes into tread mode without needing user input

 

[hermosabeach]

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...ks-go-from-wheel-to-track-in-two-seconds-flat

 

[...]

So now you have solid non inflatble wheel track with no that weighs a ton costs even more and better not get dirty or clogged not to mention that the shape of triangel track is not somethign you would want for anything buit flat packed snow, that is why is being demoed on a parking lot.

Lack of any aproach angle means that any slightly larger bump or rock on the road tries to tear the wheel off istead of it lfiting over it

dude...it is also very clearly an early prototype....

 

[Mr.BR]

Conceptual problems remain .

 

[sirhrmechanic]

^^^ Which is the point of DARPA.

DARPA-hard has always been the mantra.

And once it goes from proof of concept, then it's just engineering.

"What was first the work of masters... becomes the daily toil of tinsmiths" -- Unknown

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[Clearlight]

When they can iron out the bugs and make it grunt proof , could be a good thing . Dry loose sand is
often a problem for heavy armoured wheeled vehicles , sticky deep mud will stop even tracked
vehicles unfortunately .

 

[Jefe's Dope]

Less moving parts.

 

[Sean the Nailer]

Wenkel.

 

[Mike Casselton]

Great little engine that needed better apex seals.
My first car was a '73 RX-2.
2100lbs and a not so stock engine. 80 cubic inches of fun.

 

[Diver160651]

Just think, I bet they work about as good as aired down 40’s with beed locks at 7psi and an onboard compressor for 100x the cost.

DARPA sounds cool, but not all ideas from the think tank are well thought out.

 

[Thumper580]

My brother in law worked at DARPA for awhile. He had some interesting stories....

 

[JMGlasgow]

Great little engine that needed better apex seals.
My first car was a '73 RX-2.
2100lbs and a not so stock engine. 80 cubic inches of fun.

Apex seals continue to be a problem. Also they are notorious oil burners. Mazda has continued to try to improve the engine, but it just doesn't last near as long as a piston engine and has a hard time passing emissions. Conceptually it is a neat engine though.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

What the Wankel needed/needs is an apex seal that rolls like a cylinder instead of sliding like a snow plow. Then it might have an opportunity to operate without all that excessive lube oil in the combustion chamber and maybe actually pass emissions.

 

[EGwhisper]

No... just no. Just because something can be built doesn't mean it should. More moving parts=more points of failure.

 

[Midwestside]

 

[Unknown]

While it is an interesting engineering feat, as mentioned above, just because you can build something, doesn't mean you should. Another example of that is the pistol that is two 1911 pistols mounted to a single receiver that accepts two magazines. It fires two 45 acp cartridges at the same time.

Perhaps once the concept of the tire to track is refined, they can overcome the angle of attack issue, and the no air pressure in the "tire" issue. Then they will have something interesting. I would still question it's usefulness though. For the cost, it would probably be cheaper to have one vehicle with tires, and another with track.

 

[Maser]

I see a mention of a rotary engine. I hear they make Liberal treehuggers cry over the added pollution they make compared to a traditional piston engine. I may have to convert my 4-banger Civic to rotary.

 

[2ndamendfan]

I have not idear what happened there, but those were supposed to go in the What's Your View thread..... Tucker if you see this can you help me rectify?

You posted them, you don't need Tucker's help.
Edit
Delete post
Re-post them in other thread.
Should take less than 30 secs.

 

[CMH]

You posted them, you don't need Tucker's help.
Edit
Delete post
Re-post them in other thread.
Should take less than 30 secs.

Of course you're right. I'm an idiaot....