[Robotgroup] Fwd: Tracked vehicles

[Vern Graner]

vkonradi wrote:
> a robot which climbs stairs with certainty and precision
> really needs to be walking up them, not rolling on tracks.

I think the way the iRobot "packbot" can do this is that they have
"fins" evenly spaced on the treads to allow the tread to get a "grip" on
the edged of the stairs. This would allow a much firmer grip than having
a "flat" tread surface only relying on the friction of a small
"footprint" where it comes in contact with the edge of the stair.

When you watch the packbot go up a flight of stairs you can plainly see
it doesn't have any trouble doing so. :)

Vern

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