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Locomotion

date2025-07-24tags:meche:

Mostly copied from http://www.labratscientific.com/Flight_Page.html

Drive System Concepts

Not all robots are "mobile", but the ones used in robot competitions usually are. This means that they have to have some sort of drive mechanism which allows them to move forwards, backwards, and turn. There are many differnet types of wheels and ways to connect motors to the wheels. This module provides some basic insigths that may be useful to teams just getting into robotics competions:

Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV's)

Robots don't just operate on land, they can also operate in the air and they can be used under water. This module introduces the concept of underwater robots and shows some examples to serve as inspiration to budding robot builders:

Propellers

Propellers create thrust by imparting momentum to a fluid (i.e. air). This module outlines the details of this momentum transfer concept. One of the companion video provides a simple flow momentum experiment using a small drone. The other companion video shows how to build a simple test apparatus for testing electric airplane motors:

Open Bottom Hot Air Balloon

While simplified explanations on how hot air balloons work are usually based on the idea that "hot air rises", it is actually a little more complicated than that. This module addresses concepts such as atmospheric pressure, heat energy, and pressure gradients to provide the real physics behind hot air balloon flight. The companion video includes various experiments to reinforce the theoretical concepts. The module also includes instructions on how to build your own tissue paper hot air balloon so you can conduct your own experiments:

Parachutes

This module provides information on non-lifting parachutes. It addresses basic parachute physiscs, parachute sizing, the concept of opening loads, and experimental techniques for testing small parachutes:

Lift

This module provides information how the Continuity Equation and Bernoulli's Principle can be used to explain how lift is generated. Videos and demonstrations are provided to reinforce the concepts:

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