Re: NXT Synchro Drive

In lugnet.robotics, Rich Thompson wrote:
> On Dec 7, 2006, at 7:03 AM, Chris Phillips wrote:
>
>> In lugnet.robotics, Rich Thompson wrote:
>>> I have been playing with the turntable from the NXT kit to try and
>>> build a synchro drive train. It got a bit complicated but it works. I
>>> posted a video at my blog:
>>>
>>> <http://www.robotthoughts.com/index.php/lego/archives/2006/12/06/
>>> lego-mindstorms-nxt-synchro-drive/>
>>>
>>> or just:
>>>
>>> <http://www.robotthoughts.com/>
>>>
>>> Have Fun!
>>
>> This looks pretty cool, and I can well respect any attempt to
>> design a cool
>> device out of LEGO, but I wonder how necessary something like this
>> is with the
>> NXT?
>>
>> Just wondering...
>
>
> You are touching on the exact reason I am playing with the synchro
> drive platform. Previously, to maintain "sync" between the rotation
> of different wheels I had to use locked gearing or a chain. you can
> see examples here:
>
> http://www.robotthoughts.com/index.php/lego/archives/2000/07/20/astro-
> droid-synchro-drive/
>
> and here:
>
> http://www.robotthoughts.com/index.php/lego/archives/2000/07/20/
> synchro-drive-with-360-degree-bumper/
>
> By working with NXT motors, I hope to not have that design requirement.

Yes, I think the new capabilities of the NXT are going to give us all a new
perspective on the challenges we've taken on in the past.

> As to why this platform, I like the zero degree turn radius and the
> design is fun to watch when the full synchro drive is in motion. See
> the videos in the robots above. Once you understand the synchro
> drive, it really opens up some of the robotic possibilities of the
> turntable.

Cool!  There are other benefits to synchro drive as well, I suppose, such as the
ability to change direction without changing the orientation of the chassis.
It's always good to see someone continuing to push the envelope.

You're probably already aware of these other designs, but I'll add the links
here for (my own) future reference:

http://www.restena.lu/convict/Jeunes/SynchroDrive.htm
http://www.visi.com/~dc/synchro/index.htm

By the way, your synchro drive page is already the #3 result on google!