Build an experimental wave propulsion tank
There are many ways to make a thing ambulatory beyond just slamming some wheels. James Bruton often experiments with these unique training mechanics, whether they are practical or not. In his latest video, he built what he calls a "wave drive" to propel a tank-like robot. This experimental wave-drive tank features a 3D-printed body and an Arduino-based remote control.
This training mechanism works by using a motion similar to someone doing the worm dance move, which is very similar to the way flatworms swim through water in nature. For a more technical visualization, imagine a spinning propeller projected onto a 2D plane. The result looks like a sine wave, hence its name. The bottom of the wave contacts the ground and friction provides grip, letting the mechanism roll forward. This visualization of the propeller also mirrors the physical implementation here, as a screw-like drive shaft guides the tracks as it spins.
Bruton 3D printed almost every physical part of this robot, with the major exception of the helical metal rods. These rods spin on bearings and an Arduino Mega 2560 controls their 12V DC motors via driver boards. As with more conventional tank tracks, forward or reverse movement occurs when both motors rotate in the same direction. To make the robot spin, the motors just need to spin in opposite directions. The Arduino can drive the direction and speed of the motor based on throttle and steering inputs from Bruton's custom remote.
As Bruton demonstrates in the video, this wave player works, but it doesn't work very well. He is slow, inefficient, hard to control, and has trouble overcoming obstacles. This makes sense, since this move is better suited to wandering through viscous fluid. Even so, it's great to see Bruton testing the real-world practicality of yet another unconventional drive mechanism.
There are many ways to make a thing ambulatory beyond just slamming some wheels. James Bruton often experiments with these unique training mechanics, whether they are practical or not. In his latest video, he built what he calls a "wave drive" to propel a tank-like robot. This experimental wave-drive tank features a 3D-printed body and an Arduino-based remote control.
This training mechanism works by using a motion similar to someone doing the worm dance move, which is very similar to the way flatworms swim through water in nature. For a more technical visualization, imagine a spinning propeller projected onto a 2D plane. The result looks like a sine wave, hence its name. The bottom of the wave contacts the ground and friction provides grip, letting the mechanism roll forward. This visualization of the propeller also mirrors the physical implementation here, as a screw-like drive shaft guides the tracks as it spins.
Bruton 3D printed almost every physical part of this robot, with the major exception of the helical metal rods. These rods spin on bearings and an Arduino Mega 2560 controls their 12V DC motors via driver boards. As with more conventional tank tracks, forward or reverse movement occurs when both motors rotate in the same direction. To make the robot spin, the motors just need to spin in opposite directions. The Arduino can drive the direction and speed of the motor based on throttle and steering inputs from Bruton's custom remote.
As Bruton demonstrates in the video, this wave player works, but it doesn't work very well. He is slow, inefficient, hard to control, and has trouble overcoming obstacles. This makes sense, since this move is better suited to wandering through viscous fluid. Even so, it's great to see Bruton testing the real-world practicality of yet another unconventional drive mechanism.
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