- Joined
- Jul 12, 2015
- Messages
- 287
Happy Easter everyone! This is a project I've been working on forever it seems. My intent was to make this for my wife to use while gardening. I don't think she believes me.
The basic concept is for the wagon to follow you around as you pull the rope like any normal kids wagon. But this wagon has motors to do the heavy work for you. It has two motors for differential steering. It has two encoders, one for speed and the other for direction.
I quickly learned the wheels did not have enough traction out in the yard. What I wanted were some tiller tires which look like tractor tires. Unfortunately those cost more than I could justify and have larger diameter than I planned. So I pondered for quite a while until I saw a dual wheel baby buggy joke on TV. Ah Ha.
My initial plan was to use two drill motor batteries. They drain way to fast so my next purchase is going to be a deep cycle marine battery. My Dewalt batteries are 18 Volt, I haven't found an 18 Volt marine battery. I may have to go with a 12 Volt. Hopefully I can get enough speed at my current ratios.
It dumps as well.
This shows the speed and direction mechanism. I used a Briggs and Stratton recoil start spring for the speed. The idea is that it tries to keep a constant distance from the wife. So when the rope gets longer it speeds up. When it gets shorter it slows down. When it is the perfect length it stays at that constant speed.
Another view
I've been teaching myself machining while working on this project. I would do a better job I think now if I were to start over. But It needs to go to work this spring, so all the warts will stay for now.
I made a video some time ago but it is a .MOV , and the system wants another format. I don't know what format the system needs.
The basic concept is for the wagon to follow you around as you pull the rope like any normal kids wagon. But this wagon has motors to do the heavy work for you. It has two motors for differential steering. It has two encoders, one for speed and the other for direction.
I quickly learned the wheels did not have enough traction out in the yard. What I wanted were some tiller tires which look like tractor tires. Unfortunately those cost more than I could justify and have larger diameter than I planned. So I pondered for quite a while until I saw a dual wheel baby buggy joke on TV. Ah Ha.
My initial plan was to use two drill motor batteries. They drain way to fast so my next purchase is going to be a deep cycle marine battery. My Dewalt batteries are 18 Volt, I haven't found an 18 Volt marine battery. I may have to go with a 12 Volt. Hopefully I can get enough speed at my current ratios.
It dumps as well.
This shows the speed and direction mechanism. I used a Briggs and Stratton recoil start spring for the speed. The idea is that it tries to keep a constant distance from the wife. So when the rope gets longer it speeds up. When it gets shorter it slows down. When it is the perfect length it stays at that constant speed.
Another view
I've been teaching myself machining while working on this project. I would do a better job I think now if I were to start over. But It needs to go to work this spring, so all the warts will stay for now.
I made a video some time ago but it is a .MOV , and the system wants another format. I don't know what format the system needs.
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