Independent · 2023
Rover Capstone
A senior capstone: a high-speed, eight-wheeled rover with a custom gearbox and frame. Four Falcon motors, chain-driven, with power draw and gear ratio calculations behind the selection rather than after it. Roughly 15–17 ft/s.
Drivetrain
Four Falcon motors driving eight wheels through chain, with the gear ratio chosen against calculated power draw rather than picked and tested. The gearbox was CNC milled from quarter-inch aluminum plate, toolpaths generated in Mastercam.
Drop-center
The two center wheels sit slightly lower than the rest. That makes the rover pivot about its midpoint instead of skidding the whole wheelbase around: tighter turns, smoother maneuvering, and the overhanging tread at each end buys obstacle clearance for free.
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Independent