Time is pushing on but I'm sure we are going to have something to fight with at Cardiff. It won't have any flippers or self righter though because of time problems. This month has been electronics month and it has caused a few problems. 4QD motor controllers were ready boxed but the wires were too small for sustained battle. Interface board from Delbots has caused serious headache as on the face of it appeared OK......
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The first job was to sort out the 4QD's. In order to maintain maximum current delivery they have to run cool. The heat sink was compounded to the box and the aluminium tread plate protector and PC PSU fans were fitted to the boxes. |
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A pair of Micro Kiel batteries were mounted and linked using fork truck wiring and plug in removable link. (regulations) |
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Removable Link. |
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Dougal was assembled and a battery carrier made. The wooden front will prevent the batteries being reverse assembled. |
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The spike was ground using an angle grinder and a lathe. (not a good combination). It travels about 8" at 7.5 times per second............ |
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The Delbots interface, along with IPD receiver and battery were fitted in a box on top and the aerial threaded inside a plastic pipe. The interface is very easy to set up but I could only get about 10 feet range. After lots of playing and phone calls to Derek Foxwell I've given up for now. I can't afford any more time. |
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Back to servos, pots and a 4QD DCI-111 interface. Will the IPD failsafes meet the requirement? I still need a switch for the flywheel and a failsafe on the ignition switch. |
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The first real test drive showed up a problem with the driver and the steering response (too fast). We hit a concrete kerb at full speed (15+MPH). Still if the spike had hit first I might have damaged the kerb.......... (or broken the pivot bearing) |
25 July 2001:- After a couple of test drives we sorted out the steering response
but found the rubber tyres were worn out. We lost 10mm of diameter
in less than one hours driving. I finally got round to making the
wire brush wheels. Stiffening the bristles with pitch I managed to
blagg from a couple of guys doing some asphalting. (thanks to my wife
for for the first approach)! |
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