Friction, Torque & Momentum

[slurp]

With a view to improved 'bot building, and giving an understanding of Friction , Torque & Momentum, a couple of new pages have just been added.

http://www.minisumo.org.uk/friction.php
http://www.minisumo.org.uk/torque.php
http://www.minisumo.org.uk/momentum.php

with a general overview:-

http://www.minisumo.org.uk/mechanics.php

Your comments are welcome.

best regards,
colin

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http://www.minisumo.org.uk

[slurp]

Related to improving your pushing power Dave Hylands' website has some details on how he's moulded tyres:-

http://www.davehylands.com/Robotics/Marauder/Making-Tires/

[slurp]

Related and probably of interest over on http://www.robotbuilder.co.uk is a discussion on casting tyres for minisumo (current 28/03/06)

http://www.robotbuilder.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=873

Some additional tips based on Dave Hylands introduction and linking to a UK supplier of materials.

best regards,
colin.

[tohu]

Having read the thread on heavy wheels and being a layman at this I started wondering...

Isn't there an advantage in having heavy wheels since they add "bonus" momentum to the robot?
Wouldn't you have to calculate the velocity and weight of the entire robot (as you normally do) and then somehow add the energy stored in the spinning wheels to come up with the force that is required to stop the robot?

My point being that if two robots of equal weight and speed collide head-on the one with the heavier wheels would, albeit slowed down considerably, still continue forward. Right? (Provided there's sufficient traction.)

The question is if the extra momentum gained through heavier wheels is simply lost in lack of accelleration (or worse)?

[slurp]

The rounds are short, if you slow the accelleration then the over all momentum is lower on impact. The gain in your wheel is only there if there's no wheel slip or skid, the linear momentum is there regardless of where the weight rests (not forgetting close to the axle gives the traction).

If you're slow then you might restrict your ability to turn as a responce to your sensors, and then we come back to the effort required and the drain on your battery.

regards,
colin