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The Big Cheese used this type of system in Series 3 (but the site wasn't much use). I'd like to understand this type of system, as it seems tempting to use. What exactly is hydrostatic drive and what advantages/disadvantages does it have over a regular drivetrain?
hydrostatic drive
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmi...s)#Hydrostatic
All right, through that and some MSN chats, basically my understanding of it is such:
Some sort of power (petrol engine, in The Big Cheese's case) powers a pump. Said pump pressurizes the petrol that works the hydraulic motors getting the wheels turning.
How big of a pump and what hydraulic motors would be suitable, or is this unknown?
...BOOM!...Well probably not but it's hydraulic oil NOT petrol.Quote:
Said pump pressurizes the petrol
The motor drives the hydraulic pump which moves the hydraulic oil....this in turn flows thu the hydraulic motor and drives the wheels.
Google a bit more.
*has Googled*
Okay, pretty sure I have it now, thanks for the help Woody!
Main advantage. You can achive a great gearratio and humongous torque in a rather limited space from such a drive.
Disadvantages.
Very inefficient. Up to 60% of the input power can get lost. That is why excavators and such have huge oiltanks and radiators on the oil circuit. Not a big deal on those machines, with their diesel engines.
Heavy, there was no big reason for the manufactorers to build the stuff light. That is changing , but it means it's getting even more expensive.
Complicated and messy. 1 oil leak, and the inside of the robot/arena/workshop becomes a skate ring.
If you want it as a simple solution for combustion power conversion, remember most venues won't allow combustion engines.
Do roaming robots and robots live allow petrol engines?
I guess that depends on the location where the event is.Quote:
Originally Posted by Max