Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!news.Brown.EDU!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!netcomsv!netcom.com!nagle
From: nagle@netcom.com (John Nagle)
Subject: Re: tank-type drive recommendations wanted for 6270 board
Message-ID: <nagleCGyJL6.BJq@netcom.com>
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
References: <1993Nov19.191807.26769@relay.nswc.navy.mil>
Date: Tue, 23 Nov 1993 18:34:17 GMT
Lines: 18

jgraham@relay.nswc.navy.mil (Jeff Graham) writes:
>I am about ready to build my first robot around the 6270 board, and want
>to use a tank type drive.  Looking in Edmund Scientific, page 160 of
>catalog #13N1, there appears to be such a drive. The description is:
>	"Dual drive, dual control robot steering motor"
>This is itemm #D31,827 costing $11.95.

       That's the guts of the Milton Bradley Big Trak, an early
microprocessor-controlled toy used by some robotics researchers early
in the 1980s.  It has a neat little clutch so that when both motors
are turning at nearly the same speed, they lock together, producing
reasonably straight motion.

       If you want to build a tracked vehicle, you might start with
one of the kits found in the R/C car magazines.  Or visit a Toys-R-Us
and see what's available this year.

					John Nagle
