Pedal Dozer Project
25Jul/18Off

The Real Pedal Dozer

It seems Mr. Jeremy Spillane has built the real deal -- an actual pedal powered version of a Caterpillar Bulldozer. Well done, sir.

29Sep/14Off

Futuristic Track Design

from the past...

futuristic track design

Posted on this site is an un-referenced track design.

Looks to have a contiunous rubber track cast specially for this purpose. Advanced tread design will aid in self-cleaning mud and debris from clogging the tread pattern. Double leaf spring suspension on the bogies, slanted bogie positioning to aid track alignment and position, advanced cast wheels are likely plastic or aluminum for weight savings.

Despite these high-tech seeming elements, others indicate it is dated. leaf springs are now typically replaced by coil springs and cylindrical shock absorbers, and the body of the vehicle seems to be made of wood beams and steel banding which has been replaced with all metal or composite construction techniques.

Still, the track design itself fascinates.

 

 

 

27Apr/14Off

Tracked Boat from WWII

tracked boat

From the Germans during WWII: Panzerfahre Gepanzerte Landwasserschleppen. This tracked boat claimed to carry 20 people plus 3 operators. It was the early development efforts for a more effective amphibious landing craft capable of traversing difficult terrain and able to make significant inland maneuvers. Capable of sea launches to transport onto land as well as cross rivers and other water barriers to land access.

track boat 2

Second iteration opf the concept -- the Panzerfahre Gepanzerte Landwasserschleppen 2 -- more closely resembles modern landing craft. This example has startling similarity to the modern US efforts as described here.

tracked boat 22

 

31Mar/14Off

Remote Controlled Tracked Lawnmower

remote controlled tracked lawnmower

A company called Evatech makes and sells some pretty fancy tracked lawnmowers for industrial applications. They're intended for mowing on steep slopes, low overhead access, and anywhere too dangerous for a human operator.

tracked lawnmower

The models have a gas powered lawnmower blade drive and an electric drive for the tracks. Looks to me like they're using some simple off-the-shelf drive components from electric mobility scooters, some readily available industrial rubber tracks, R/C controllers, and lawnmower machinery.

I like the ingenuity of design and the build looks robust. Their drive sprocket, for example, appears to be an elegant build solution: bolts with sleeves positioned around the circumference of a round metal plate. Simple and effective.

Curious to know how intensive they are to operate by remote control.

27Mar/14Off

VW Bug Tracked Vehicle

tracked VW bug

The VW bug is a go-to platform for DIY vehicle mods. Its light, its simple, and its cheap.

Here is an example of a bug with tracks fitted with an extra axle, gullwing doors, and track covered extensions. I like the home made tracks, too -- metal stock bolted to a length of continuous conveyor belt and inner cleats to grip the rubber tires.

24Feb/14Off

Tracked Electric Locomotive

electric snow sled
This creation by Yvon Martel functions as a personal locomotive to aid in all kinds of weight pulling. It is a tracked unit containing batteries, electric propulsion, and control unit.

29Jan/14Off

1939 Lehaitre Tracked Motorcycle

I present the 1939 Lehaitre tracked motorcycle. WWII made engineers see tanks and tracked vehicles everywhere, and apparently this enthusiasm spilled over to the world of motorcycles.
tracked-motorcycle-1939-Lehaitre

4Feb/13Off

Tracked VW Snow Bus

What a great example of custom vehicle hacking. Bernd Berger has taken an old, derelict, 1966 Volkswagon van and combined it with the running gear from what looks like a small Prinoth tracked utility vehicle.

vw snow van

The results look fantastic.

20Jan/11Off

Skizee Tracked Pusher Vehicle

skizee tracked vehicle

Just stumbled upon this site about two guys, Tim Park and Jim Maidment, from Kimberly BC Canada who made a tracked vehicle they call the Skizee. Intended for ski patrol and back country skiiers to gain additional mobility and range in their activities.

7Dec/10Off

All Terrain Tracked Motorcycle

As part of our brainstorming session, Greg and I discussed the possibility of a single tracked bicycle design where the track could flex into an arc for the purposes of cornering. Turns out, a couple of crafty German designers, Tilmann Schlootz and Oliver Keller, thought of this long ago and in 2006 released a motorcycle model for the Michelin Challenge Design competition.

baal tracked motorcycle

21Oct/10Off

Small Motorized Tracked Vehicle

dtv-shredder

Interesting find on the web -- the DTV Shredder motorized personal track vehicle. The prototype was designed and built by fellow Canadians BPG Werks located in Brampton, Ontario. They claim to have financial supporters for civilian and military applications and expect to be in production in the next 18 months or so.

10Aug/10Off

Home Made Track Build

Discovered this page where some robotics enthusiasts made their own tracks out of bicycle chain, PVC pipe, and bolts. Looks like an effective design and I'd like to see it in action!

3Nov/09Off

Subaru STI with Retrofit Tracks

This video shows a modern all-wheel drive car fitted with custom tracks. The interesting thing for us is the design of these tracks: The 4 wheels at the bottom contact patch, all connected by pivoting arms that allow the track to follow the ground. This is very similar to the design we created out of lego. Also, the use of a rubber track in this application is parallel to our own plans.

21Sep/09Off

Concepts

Dave's initial Thoughts:

pedal_dozer

Greg's Thoughts:

Bulldozer drawings

17Sep/09Off

Track Conversion Kit for Bicycles

Article from the Star describes a conversion kit that turns any mountain bike into a snow capable mode of transportation.

17Sep/09Off

Human Powered Tracked Snow Vehicle Example

Comments on an interesting style human powered track vehicle.

Some positive points that come to mind:

  • Recumbent position for the rider and the seat looks good
  • Simplicity of chain drive mechanisms taken directly from a bicycle
  • Center of gravity looks to be positioned close to the front of the track - matches the requirement for easier turning of the track according to Greg.

Some negative points:

  • Slider on track (201) seem too high friction for our intended use.
  • Complexity of idler gears throughout the chain drive
  • Don't much care for the look of such a small wheel at the rear of the track
   

Pages

Categories

Meta