I found a use for the Mobius Strip Tank
Вставка
- Опубліковано 7 січ 2024
- Ad: Thanks to PCBWay for sponsoring this video:www.pcbway.com/
A mobius strip or loop is a one-sided object, and we can easily demonstrate the principle by getting a strip of paper, putting one twist in it, and joining the ends together.
The original tank I built has tracks like this, because it was suggested in the comments of another video, but it was hard to think of good reasons why it needs to exist.
After I’d built this I realised that where the track twists, there’s a section in the middle where the track is vertical, and this would allow it to bend the other way at this position.
CAD & Code: github.com/XRobots/Mobius/
You can support me on Patreon, join my Discord, or buy my Merchandise:
***************************
Discord: / discord
Patreon: / xrobots
Merchandise: teespring.com/stores/james-br...
***************************
Other socials:
***************************
Instagram: / xrobotsuk
Twitter: / xrobotsuk
Facebook: / xrobotsuk
***************************
Affiliate links - I will get some money of you use them to sign up or buy something:
***************************
10% off at www.3dfuel.com/XROBOTS - use code XROBOTS at the cart screen.
Music for your UA-cam videos: share.epidemicsound.com/xrobots
***************************
CAD and Code for my projects: github.com/XRobots
Huge thanks to my Patrons, without whom my standard of living would drastically decline. Like, inside out-Farm Foods bag decline. Plus a very special shoutout to Lulzbot, Inc who keep me in LulzBot 3D printers and support me via Patreon.
HARDWARE/SOFTWARE
Below you can also find a lot of the typical tools, equipment and supplies used in my projects:
Filament from: www.3dfuel.com/
Lulzbot 3D Printers: bit.ly/2Sj6nil
Bearings from: simplybearings.co.uk/
Lincoln Electric Welder: bit.ly/2Rqhqos
CNC Router: bit.ly/2QdsNjt
Ryobi Tools: bit.ly/2RhArcD
3D Printer Filament: bit.ly/2PdcdUu
Soldering Iron: bit.ly/2DrNWDR
Vectric CNC Software: bit.ly/2zxpZqv - Наука та технологія
Ooh! If you had 2 twists, top and bottom, then you could have one drive surface for the "front" and one for the "rear". Imagine if you had grippy drive surface at the rear, but some sort of more directional-holding linear surface on the front to enhance steering!
Came here to say this
that would kind of defeat the purpose of a mobius strip tank
@@itsyaboikirbowell yeah, it wouldn't be a mobius strip anymore, but that's fine right? Call it "inspired by".
@@ilonachan true
@@itsyaboikirboi don't think it would. It's still using both sides of the track evenly. Just that the back of the tank is using one side and the front is using the other side.
The main benefit is doubling the tread surface area without doubling the length of the tread. This would apply well to something that had to crawl on hot lava, for example. Or something designed to soak up oil spills on the water.
How does thus double the surface?
@@frandurrieu6477For the same weight / construction materials cost, you can use both sides of each tread tile, the top and bottom side, spaced apart by the full length of the tread so there would be plenty of cooling/processing time when the tile could be renewed for the next pass.
Problem is wear
@@quantumblur_3145 Depends. If you were really trying to build a tank that could cross literal lava, and it needed a certain amount of cooling time before it could be re-used, you could use almost the same amount of materials and manufacturing costs to produce twice as much usable tread surface for withstanding the lava, creating the virtual footprint of a twice as long tank crossing one lava stream after another a full tread length apart. This would be more effective than having half that footprint, and if you weren't hotrodding your lavatank through the desert for fun, the extra wear from the mobius twist would not be a great concern.
@@semegraph wouldn't the lava warp the tread exterior and interfere with wheel grip?
Sometimes the simple projects are near impossible and then you get crazy stuff like this that works on the first shot. Awesome
I'm just glad I thought of a use for the Mobius track
@@jamesbruton there is a next step beyond this..
One track , left and right track contacts uses elongated (one side) and shortening (other side) to turn
@RepentandbelieveinJesusChrist5
nobody cares about you and your jesus on youtube
-me 24:7
@@anshsgh6092 I love this country you’re free to believe whatever you wanna believe you’re free to say whatever you wanna say but then Me 24:7… that had me laughing louder than I would have at church
I don't think I could ever adequately express how ridiculously beautiful this is to watch driving around! This is amazing, I'm glad you continue to share your exploration of alternative wheels. Thanks James!
thanks so much!
@@jamesbruton This could be used too in a super long range vehicle to "hotswap" or "hotclean" the track links while it is moving. For saving fuel or being more efficient between surfaces or repairs even.
@@jamesbruton my obvious immediate thought was; brilliant! two of these of either side of large arctic snow vehicles as back wheels to give better steering, no need for the Mobius twist in that but the tracked bending mechanism I could see have a useful application for those types of vehicles
turn this into a motorbike
Ñnbmm no bnm
I can't help but see this as a prototype for a bizarre steampunk-y motorbike; you could even lean into the corners and the track twist would maintain traction (though I doubt it would go fast enough to matter)
It's just so satisfying to watch!
Mhm, defenitly feels like some cool fictional motorbike
If you did a 180 twist of the track in both directions, the front and back section would each have their own side of the track! I think it would look really cool to paint one ground-contacting side of the track a different color; at first glance it would look like it has two different tracks but on closer inspection you'd its actually one
well, this double colouring of the track would still be shown on this tank. the track twists two times between two sides, so each of the sides would have different coloured tracks
Love to see that you keep your problems / mistakes in the video (i.e. sprocket problems). Shows that even you have problems, but don't give up and fix them!
I try my best to make things work the best I can
@jamesbruton that's all anyone can ever do
@@jamesbruton I have a small solution if I may, for the treads getting stuck on the terrain. What if you slightly decreased the width of the track pieces, to be more precise, just decrease the sides a bit so that the track is a little narrower.
no I gotta go to bed! Post this 8 hours from now!
Finally! The perks of living in Africa.
I should be sleeping but I need to be learning
@@welribotes4139hello fellow African
While a v3 is patiently anticipated this one blew my mind, kinda wanna see a tank motorcycle now, I'm more impressed by a single track being able to steer
You could lift up the tracks in the center more, so the bottom one doesn't touch the ground and bind up the bottom twisting action in the grass for example. You could also make this into a two tracked version like a skidsteer, but both steered as in this video , with the inside one steered more acutely to keep true alignment in the turning circle. Having two tracks would also eliminate the problem of this version being out of sideways balance while turning, causing it to partly ride on the bottom track that is in the middle of the twist and should really not have any of that resistance against its twisting action, especially in uneven (not smooth) terrain like gass.
Love this idea. Cool to see the twist have a purpose. I do recommend dropping that telephone thing thought that sound is quite jarring.
The rining was alittle annoying but I thought the idea was cute and fun
Disagreed. I think it was a fun advert.
I didint think this would work or even be useful but damn this is really cool and im surprised how well it work, this would be really cook to see on a scifi tank like the halo scorpion that has the two separate front and back track pods
This one is looking absolutely amazing dude great work 👍👍
No matter how useless this might turn out to be (and who knows if there could potentially be some very useful use for this), I'm still so very pleased it was made. The Mobius loop is my favorite 3-dimensional object, because it has one edge and one side.
Thanks for the video!
One of the things I love about your channel is after you make the coolest most unique thing, then remake it because the first version had flaws, you still end the video showing things that could have been improved. That level of attention to detail is mind-blowing to me. Inspiring.
This was really interesting and amazing. If the point is to design tank treads that articulate, this is very close to an idea that's worth chasing. I would say, going back to keep the bottom flat and have the top flip to form a true mobius strip is a bigger idea. Redesigning the tread to articulate on the flat and have a tread surface on both sides would be an advantage; longer track life, finer steering control, and a novel feature enabling greater armor coverage on the high part of the track.
I think maybe if you made the bottom twist twist all the way, and the top one twist and twist back, it might run better. I'm noticing the bottom tread in the middle where it bends seems to be getting caught a little because of it trying to bend back the way it came.
Either that or you could twist both the entire way around. It would defeat the purpose of using a mobius strip, but it would still be cool.
putting a twist in both top and bottom will still make it run on both sides of the track even though it's not a mobius strip
@@when_the_ Oh i see... I was legit annoyed that the bottom was catching and I couldn't understand why he twisted the top and didn't the bottom. Mobius strip video, i get it now.
Man, this thing makes THE most SATISFYING "Chug-chug-chug" noise that makes it sound like a train. I find myself, being a bit of a disney nerd, just imagining this as some sort of small robot for some purpose or another in EPCOT or such. If you made a cool rainbow gradient that changes through the colors seamlessly as it goes around and has different colors top and bottom, it would be QUITE the spectacle machine.
Penalty the best usage of the mobius strip!
That’s an awesome project 🤩👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 This serves as a great prototype to see how you can enhance it 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Took me the whole episode to understand why you designed it with the bend on top and bottom. It's actually genius doing that to allow it to bend freely in the middle.
although Im wondering if the mobius-bend is really necessary ( well it is in this case or you don´t have a mobius tank duh 😉), so a more sophisticated track which runs normal but its links - farther apart - have a wider range of lateral movement ( forced back onto the sprockets on each end ). The individual track connections need to be flexible but have to keep the track together. Hm, does it make it even more complicated or less complicated then ^^
This is new. Haven't seen this around old track patents. :)) Neato!
I was relieved to see the actual track was one-sided, since the one showed in the renderings was not. Your solution for the actuators placement was specially satisfying.
I love how two different projects came together like this
If you make the twist section longer it might help with the grinding. Gives it more space to twist and untwist
Or he could make it so it can rotate more easily like it can move even further
The biggest problem I see is that when the bottom belt is vertical it's hitting the ground. It either needs the entire middle section raised and/or less wide tracks.
Always imprest with what you manage to make regardless of how smoothly it operates
James, you are an inspiration as always.
Thanks!
This is quite brilliant James, you've made yourself a tank/motorcycle
Very nice. Hopefully you’ll make a version 2 which you will be able to sit on and ride to the shops.
And this is how the Mechanicus' famed Bruton tank began.
The track needs some guides to help smooth out movement when it goes between the bends. Adding some suspended/sprung small rollers to the outside of the ground contact armature will help with stability. So cool. Love it
Wow, I saw your first video which was already clever, this one I like even more. This new concept screams: motorbike-tank.
I love it. The small radius sprockets may be why it''s juttering every like like that. Few loaded tooth at the same time. Like a worn bike chain the smallest rear sprocket.
Brilliant!
I would love to see a rideable version next! 🏍️
I appreciate you do this stuff kinda to see if you can and for the whole problem solving element of these weird designs. I just can't help but point out you have a motor in each side so this could just be 2 separate normal loop tracks, job done easy.
Painting one side of the tracks would make a nice visual, so you can see how much they twist! You could probably fold the tank track in half where the rollers are and still drive it. Would make for some awesome donuts!
Interesting and a lot of printing. For turning the machine you probably don't need a mobius or to make the track to flip over fully but just a shared pivoting line which you have. If tracks just turn 90 degrees at pivoting point and then back to 0, you should be able to turn your machine left and right. Keep on inventing!
Glaring thing I kept thinking of was at this point just make two tank treads independently, if there is no contact in the middle what’s the point of it being the same track that hits the ground again in the back. Either make two independent track loops, front and back, or (to keep the spirit of the project, which is very cool) have one twist at the top and let the weight of the tank keep the non-twisted bottom in contact with the ground so it is able to bend like the sushi style bending track. Also keeps it a möbius strip. Two twists mean two sides.
Amazing how you come up with all the mechanics for this thing to work. AWESOME!👍🏽 I wondered if you could make the track twist on demand. One side for snow chains and the other for road rubber .
This is an interesting design. I'm really curious how it would work if there were two side by side like a standard tank track. How well they would work while articulating together. As well as what kind of handling characteristics you gain or lose.
It could even still be a single track!
This has to be scaled up so you can ride it! Love it!
I love it! What a great project.
Another brilliant project! This would make a great star wars droid, also the red phone interludes had me cracking up. Thanks you've made my lunch break very enjoyable.
Thanks!
dude this has insane design implecations
With a couple of wheel chair motors this would be a BEAST in the snow!
Definitely the perfect use for a mobius tread though. Very cool!
The *video* is a great one for any inventor-hobbyist, because it so clearly illustrates iteration and the challenges of prototyping. Love it!
The "tank" though ... honestly, this remains a solution in search of a problem. This vehicle isn't doing anything a so-called "H-tank" could do just as well - basically, if the fore and aft portions were self contained powered bogies, you could pivot them (either by bending the entire vehicle or by pivoting the entire bogie like a rail car) and end up with a tracklaying vehicle that avoided the major turning challenges of actual tanks. But this contraption, as cool as it is to look at, really doesn't do anything useful.
Which is not meant to shame you or anything! The inventiveness and problem solving needed to make this is amazing, and watching the video was fun, so thank you for that! But at this point, it's my opinion that the Mobius tank idea just isn't worth pursuing for any reason more complex than "because I can."
Of course, "because I can" is a perfectly wonderful reason for any kind of hobby project. :)
It sounds and hops like an old steam tractor. Beautiful.
hopes are low, but will we see your R2 build again? i actully found and startet watching the channel because of it and i wish it would be finished some day.
as far as i remember, it was nerver completed. maybe even a new one, now that you learnd so much over all these years?
Haha! Great video as usual.
Quite amazed at your ability to cobble togeather such complex designs
Maybe for the parts you printed on the extended bed, it's worth considering laser cutting? I know you said it didn't take that long to print - but it would he alot quicker for pieces that are flat side panels with no complex 3d geometries
Hehe the phone gag was funny - maybe you can distort your voice alittle or actually use the phones microphone to add additional layer to the effect, so that if you arnt watching but listening to the video, you still experience you talking into the phone
Well done for all your hard work!
Also wonder what you do with all your waste plastic?
If it could make tighter bends I could see something like this operating in warehouses with very narrow aisles 😅 It's very alien looking, I like it 😎
James Bruton you never fail to amaze me
I love the new phone call transitions actually
I think you might be able to do this w a more continuous twist, giving a round wheel shape to both treads. The real twist would be at the top, and flex as current, the faux twist would be replaced with track bending, allowing for the development of an upward flexing curve to the track while turning. This would elevate the center of the device off the ground, and allow for more clearance and wheel like behaviour (and support, even drive, from a supporting wheel for the track ends. If you make a paper mobius, holding it twist up, press the lower flat upwards, then twist it to see the "wheels" turn.
Awesome upgrade, using the möbius twist to paddle in water would be cool!
Woow it is actually works, never see such mechanism before
This is a very cool machine.
This is so cool!
Very cool and novel design! I wonder if it would drive better on uneven terrain if you had an identical pair of them connected in the middle.
This has probably been asked already, but is there some reason you don't have a CNC router? A lot of the parts on your projects seem like they'd be much better suited to subtractive manufacturing rather than additive.
I'd hazard a guess it's some combination of the space required and noise.
He's also just known for being the guy that 3d prints everything.
Edit: Couldn't shake the feeling that I'd seen James use a CNC router at some point so I looked back at his video history and he did indeed have one 5 years ago so 🤷
Yeah, CNC out of plywood would make these bigger projects much faster for him to prototype. I think he might be constrained by space.
in theory, a quad mobius strip system could have the tight turn, single wear surface, And a full length contact tread for low ground pressure.
but a system w 6 standard treads would do that too, be simpler & far more robust, assuming both used a complex hinged chassis system.
still awesome ideas, and great to See them build out & tested!
Very different. You really need to build another one and ride it!
Could you make an part 2 with more upgrades it be so cool if you do and do you have any plans like this?
I don't think anybody else gets so many sponsors like James. 4 Sponsors in one video? Damn!
The idea of this robot is so ridiculous yet you execute it so perfectly.
7:09 🎼 Well I'm your Mobius Tank man. Stop me when I'm passin' by.🎶
a lovely experiment.
this thing running along in this wonky fashion in the kitchen is strangely cute.
Like a stupid but lovable plastic pet
I enjoyed the phone transitions :)
I love this project
Love you, smart guy.
Reason for the twist seems pretty clear to me - wear balancing, both sides of the tracks get wear so the whole thing lasts longer before the treads wear smooth.
the real world applications for a refined product such as this are literally exponetial. i could watch this type of content for houra
Absolutely love the nonsensical phone calls
If you ever replace the tracks, try making the gear holes slightly flared open, at the same angle as the new beveled gear teeth.
This would really give you that extra protection from any jams ever happening. Ever ever.
This gives me nostalgia for the tracked vehicles i used to make in blocksworld, fully physics based.
The UA-cam algorithm sends its regards. I have no idea how I got here, but you've earned yourself a subscribe.
A lovely stretch of the word 'use' ;)
Very impressive cool project. You should really spray paint one side of the track so it's easier to see how it flips as it's driving.
The extra tiltability of the treads allow them to tilt to form-fit rough ground and maximise contact area. To fix stability, you could double the treads or put stabilising wheels. Doubling the treads may cause issues with steering, but should be possible. Ideally, you don't want the vertical twist touching the ground, so it'd be good to raise it higher.
I need to see this upgraded and turned into a bike! :D
Love it !
Congratulations on inventing the worlds first motorcycle! :D
It's a bit sci-fi, but You could use the Mobius to pull a section of track inside the vehicle for maintenance. Use replaceable feet on the tread sections and swap them for wear and tear or for certain terrains. I'm thinking like a big Sandcrawler type vehicle. Rubber feet for that run to town, and armored ones when back on the field. Maybe some snow shoes.
Im thinking about military scaled tanks like this and how well it might work and need to be changed.
nice! can you make horizontal bends too, for suspension?
This is a neat vehicle.
thanks!
I smell a track motocycle comming on :D
In an alternate reality, this is how we designed tractors from the start, and the concept of 2 treads is mind blowing.
We need a Megaman game where all the cute enemy robots are James' creations. Just need to tack on some googly eyes.
This is genius my friend.
Puzzled that you left the bottom rotation of the track on the ground when it could be arbitrarily high. Of course that would mean printing more track... Gotta love square wheels!
this is beautiful
thanks!
Ah yes a James Bruton video to keep me up at 2:30
Love it, no idea why it exists but its cool :D
Education and entertainment!
I think you should run a slightly offset set of holes in the middle of each track and then include sprockets on the vertical rollers to lift the track off of the ground so it doesn’t drag from gravity in the center. Also, this is a viable concept for a single track motorcycle, and you should continue to develop it as such
Very nice
Finally found a video that shows what too many ADs/sponsor messages looks like.
We've really got to get James a Onefinity CNC for builds like this. Even with a single CNC, most of the large parts could have been cut from particle board in a fraction of the time. I know he has limited space, but you screw it to a board and you can lean it against a wall to reclaim the space.
nice! now make two of them, connect them together and make an actual tank