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.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.Originally Posted by Max
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