Prototypes

There was a bunch of related work around the GIT I did at the time and have never bothered to put up until now. In case anybody cares to view any of this old work, I have posted pictures and descriptions of it below. Mostly just a bunch of cool 3D renders that didn’t come to anything, or were useful in teaching myself about the properties of Gyroscopes.

These were all evaluated around October, 2001

Prototype A0

This was a geared version, but there problems with the teeth not meshing correctly and was dumped.

Prototype B

“Counter Rotating Rings”

Advantages:
– No friction problem, the rings speed up and slow down
– The directional control is much better (simply speed up the difference centripetal velocity at the opposite point you want to move)
– Better gyroscopic control because the balls can be spun up faster both around the track (limited by the motor torque ability) and spinning (versus motion around the track) around the back side.
– Also directly available
– Multiple balls are possible, but limited
– Easy to manufacture

Disadvantages:
– Computer controlled rings are necessary
– The position of the balls has to be known

Thor’s Hammer

“Catch up Thor’s Hammer w balls”

Advantages:
– Spacing of balls is assured
– No friction problems when slowing down or speeding up the balls
– The movement of the balls can still be done by a stationary cam system
– Middle wheel spins at a constant speed.

Disadvantages:
– For each gyroscope a motor is needed
– Motor for each spinning gyroscope
– has to be controlled by electronics
– Motors take all the strain of spinning up and down the balls
– physical acceleration of motors a limiting factor
– Have to get power onto a spinning object
– Cam system for controlling the position of the balls would be complicated.

Fixed balls in wheel

Advantages:
– Spacing of balls is assured
– No cam system

Disadvantages:
– No speeding up or slowing down of balls (less centrifugal force)
– Motor for each spinning gyroscope
– has to be controlled by electronics
– Motors take all the strain of spinning up and down the balls
– physical acceleration of motors a limiting factor
– Have to get power onto a spinning object