As is, Fred is a cylinder which can roll straight, but you could also make him able to become a cone, which rolls in a circle, in order to turn. Perhaps add the ability to shorten or lengthen a certain side so that the six rectangular segments become trapezoids. Might make for challenges with joints, but it should enable turning while retaining full-body rolling and keeping it to just a single roller unit (as opposed to making two units that work side by side like a segway)
Maybe separate the rectangles into 2 triangle that would normally stay rigid as a rectangle but separate into triangles and roll over the correct diagonal line when you need it to turn. One rectangle should have its diagonal to turn left and the next to right. It goes over one bent diagonal, next diagonal stays flat and so forth.
(Only theory here) If you split each section of the hexagon perpendicular to the direction of travel and hinge it in the middle, you could drive it so that each section can transform from a rectangle into a trapezoid by rotating it about that hinge. With sufficiently low friction, you would only need to actuate one section and the rest would follow due to geometry limitations. This would make a conical shape, causing it to turn
Very interesting design and informative tutorial! Wondering are you interested in any potential collab together? We're open to sponsor free services covering custom PCBs, 3DP, CNC etc. (PCBWay zoey)
As is, Fred is a cylinder which can roll straight, but you could also make him able to become a cone, which rolls in a circle, in order to turn. Perhaps add the ability to shorten or lengthen a certain side so that the six rectangular segments become trapezoids. Might make for challenges with joints, but it should enable turning while retaining full-body rolling and keeping it to just a single roller unit (as opposed to making two units that work side by side like a segway)
Maybe separate the rectangles into 2 triangle that would normally stay rigid as a rectangle but separate into triangles and roll over the correct diagonal line when you need it to turn. One rectangle should have its diagonal to turn left and the next to right. It goes over one bent diagonal, next diagonal stays flat and so forth.
(Only theory here) If you split each section of the hexagon perpendicular to the direction of travel and hinge it in the middle, you could drive it so that each section can transform from a rectangle into a trapezoid by rotating it about that hinge. With sufficiently low friction, you would only need to actuate one section and the rest would follow due to geometry limitations. This would make a conical shape, causing it to turn
3 sides are for going straight, and 3 sides are for turning. You can add joints in the turning sides that let it rotate 45 degrees either direction.
Subbed and waiting for the Fred 2.0
Why not link 2 Fred’s together with a centre shaft.
For turning get it to fall on its side and right itself in the direction you wanted to turn.
Turn it into a ball shape - a couple pieces on the left and a couple of pieces on the right.
This is very cool !
What if you split the robot in 2 parts, so one part can roll in the opposite direction of the other, possibly causing it to rotate?
You mean like tank tracts?
@@yumameda yeah kinda
Very interesting design and informative tutorial! Wondering are you interested in any potential collab together? We're open to sponsor free services covering custom PCBs, 3DP, CNC etc. (PCBWay zoey)