Advantages and Disadvantages of Tank Tracks - Electronic Circuits Projects Diagrams Free

**Krumlink** · 11th April 2008, 04:11 AM

I was trying to list out the advantages and Disadvantages of Tank tracks as compared to wheels, and this is what I came up with:

Advantages:

Increased stability
Increased Traction
Increased Torque

Disadvantages:

Lack of speed under certain situations
Hindered Turning ability under certain situations
Complexity of set-up as compared to wheels

Are there any other obvious flaws that I have missed?

blueroomelectronics · 11th April 2008, 04:22 AM

Efficiency, tank tracks are not as energy efficient as wheels.

**Krumlink** · 11th April 2008, 04:39 AM

In what manner?

**3v0** · 11th April 2008, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueroomelectronics

Efficiency, tank tracks are not as energy efficient as wheels.

There is a lot of friction with tank tracks. You need more motor and battery to do the same work.

Another downside is cost. A set of wheels is cheap compared to a decent set of tracks. I have not used them but Bill said the cheap ones tend to fall off.

blueroomelectronics · 11th April 2008, 05:13 AM

What you might want to play with are Omniwheels

http://www.societyofrobots.com/robot_omni_wheel.shtml

dknguyen · 11th April 2008, 05:14 AM

You said so yourself: hindered turning. What do you think causes that? Friction! = lack of efficiency.

Tracks and wheels can start to balance out once you start putting your wheels on suspension though, especially once you get more than 4 wheels. Tanks tracks are simpler than a bunch of suspended wheels to simulate tank tracks- you have driveshafts, shocks, and transmissions going all over the place to power the wheels. It's still easier (and thus cheaper) to find the parts though since there are plenty of hobby grade monster trucks and zero hobby grade tanks.

TO me, the huge advantage of tracks is none of the things you just listed, but the fact that the tracks can be configured to climb very large obstacles without affecting the size of the output shaft lever arm. FOr example, you need a large wheel to climb a large obstacle, the large wheel is a large lever arm so you must gear your motor down more. Not so with tracks since a tiny tiny track driving gear with a tiny lever arm can be used to drive a humongously tall tracks that is still able to climb over large obstacles. THe losses in the gearing can make the motors unable to drive the wheels to move the robot not to mention the sheer cost of such high reduction gearboxes can outweight the cost of the tracks (keep in mind we are talking about serious climbing ability here, not your run of the mill battlebot tracked robot).

Tracks also spread the weight out more so there is less pressure on the ground. THe result is so you can traverse over softer terrain without sinking in. Probably not important unless you are the military or trying to run your robot over a bog or something.

nickelflippr · 11th April 2008, 03:05 PM

Quote:

It's still easier (and thus cheaper) to find the parts though since there are plenty of hobby grade monster trucks and zero hobby grade tanks.

There's the Tamiya Tracked Vehicle chassis.

O.K. maybe not exactly Hobby Grade. Works great on low friction surfaces like concrete or vinyl flooring. Do a quick pirouette on carpet and one of the treads is likely to come off. As mentioned, a tank wants to climb anything it runs into.

**Krumlink** · 11th April 2008, 04:48 PM

Yes I thought about that, but instead I am going to get these:
http://www.solarbotics.com/products/gmtpkg/ (yellow of course)

They are much stronger with pin style construction with replacements if needed

Theres a video of them working too! Not to mention a really cool robot that likes to damage its sonar over time

http://www.solarbotics.com/news/2008...-drum-machine/

nickelflippr · 11th April 2008, 06:49 PM

Those tracks will be way better on carpet. Very nice kit!

**Krumlink** · 11th April 2008, 07:17 PM

Well i purchased the kit (GM9 with yellow treads) and I am glad that I did. It will be very fun playing with this!

adaminc · 13th April 2008, 07:18 AM

I made tracks out of roller chain once, they were awesome, but heavy.

dknguyen · 13th April 2008, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adaminc

I made tracks out of roller chain once, they were awesome, but heavy.

DId they leave a trail of destruction in their wake?

43617373 · 14th April 2008, 03:40 AM

There is one huge problem with tracks that you need to be very careful of if you are desinging them for a competition or practical use. The tracks have a tendancy to pop off of their tracks while turning on any surface that has a fairly large friction, suck as outdoors or a rubber floor. Wheels dont give is problem.

**Krumlink** · 14th April 2008, 07:42 PM

My treads have a smooth flat surface, so turning wont be a problem.

**Krumlink** · 21st April 2008, 01:46 AM

I have both treads made, heres a pic of one of them below.

All I have to do now is to work on the body and I will be in business. Also note our 2 team pins

11th April 2008, 04:11 AM	#1 (permalink)
Krumlink Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 1,529	Advantages and Disadvantages of Tank Tracks I was trying to list out the advantages and Disadvantages of Tank tracks as compared to wheels, and this is what I came up with: Advantages: Increased stability Increased Traction Increased Torque Disadvantages: Lack of speed under certain situations Hindered Turning ability under certain situations Complexity of set-up as compared to wheels Are there any other obvious flaws that I have missed? __________________ Visit my website! http://www.freewebs.com/electronic-hobbyist

11th April 2008, 04:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
blueroomelectronics Experienced Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,126 Blog Entries: 1	Efficiency, tank tracks are not as energy efficient as wheels. __________________ Bill Smart Kits build Smart People http://www.blueroomelectronics.com

11th April 2008, 04:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
Krumlink Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 1,529	In what manner? __________________ Visit my website! http://www.freewebs.com/electronic-hobbyist

11th April 2008, 05:13 AM	#5 (permalink)
blueroomelectronics Experienced Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,126 Blog Entries: 1	What you might want to play with are Omniwheels http://www.societyofrobots.com/robot_omni_wheel.shtml __________________ Bill Smart Kits build Smart People http://www.blueroomelectronics.com

11th April 2008, 05:14 AM	#6 (permalink)
dknguyen Experienced Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 3,779	You said so yourself: hindered turning. What do you think causes that? Friction! = lack of efficiency. Tracks and wheels can start to balance out once you start putting your wheels on suspension though, especially once you get more than 4 wheels. Tanks tracks are simpler than a bunch of suspended wheels to simulate tank tracks- you have driveshafts, shocks, and transmissions going all over the place to power the wheels. It's still easier (and thus cheaper) to find the parts though since there are plenty of hobby grade monster trucks and zero hobby grade tanks. TO me, the huge advantage of tracks is none of the things you just listed, but the fact that the tracks can be configured to climb very large obstacles without affecting the size of the output shaft lever arm. FOr example, you need a large wheel to climb a large obstacle, the large wheel is a large lever arm so you must gear your motor down more. Not so with tracks since a tiny tiny track driving gear with a tiny lever arm can be used to drive a humongously tall tracks that is still able to climb over large obstacles. THe losses in the gearing can make the motors unable to drive the wheels to move the robot not to mention the sheer cost of such high reduction gearboxes can outweight the cost of the tracks (keep in mind we are talking about serious climbing ability here, not your run of the mill battlebot tracked robot). Tracks also spread the weight out more so there is less pressure on the ground. THe result is so you can traverse over softer terrain without sinking in. Probably not important unless you are the military or trying to run your robot over a bog or something. Last edited by dknguyen; 11th April 2008 at 05:21 AM.

11th April 2008, 04:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
Krumlink Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 1,529	Yes I thought about that, but instead I am going to get these: http://www.solarbotics.com/products/gmtpkg/ (yellow of course) They are much stronger with pin style construction with replacements if needed Theres a video of them working too! Not to mention a really cool robot that likes to damage its sonar over time http://www.solarbotics.com/news/2008...-drum-machine/ __________________ Visit my website! http://www.freewebs.com/electronic-hobbyist

11th April 2008, 06:49 PM	#9 (permalink)
nickelflippr Experienced Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Oregon, USA Posts: 110	Those tracks will be way better on carpet. Very nice kit!

11th April 2008, 07:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
Krumlink Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 1,529	Well i purchased the kit (GM9 with yellow treads) and I am glad that I did. It will be very fun playing with this! __________________ Visit my website! http://www.freewebs.com/electronic-hobbyist

13th April 2008, 07:18 AM	#11 (permalink)
adaminc Experienced Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 43	I made tracks out of roller chain once, they were awesome, but heavy.

14th April 2008, 03:40 AM	#13 (permalink)
43617373 Experienced Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: BC Canada Posts: 45	There is one huge problem with tracks that you need to be very careful of if you are desinging them for a competition or practical use. The tracks have a tendancy to pop off of their tracks while turning on any surface that has a fairly large friction, suck as outdoors or a rubber floor. Wheels dont give is problem. __________________ Mechanical Engineers make weapons. Civil Engineers make targets.

14th April 2008, 07:42 PM	#14 (permalink)
Krumlink Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 1,529	My treads have a smooth flat surface, so turning wont be a problem. __________________ Visit my website! http://www.freewebs.com/electronic-hobbyist

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