Mule's first try at Snow Plowing

[Tommy]

http://www.societyofrobots.com/robotforum/index.php?topic=11962.0

george_0001.wmv

Tommy

[macdad-]

Nice, any details for the bot?

[ddemarco5]

is that a laser scanner on it's back?

[Tommy]

is that a laser scanner on it's back?

ddemarco5
No, every snow plow I'v seen had a yellow flashing safety light, figured the Mule should have
one also, I did mask it so it's not so bright.

Tommy

[voyager2]

Wow that's amazing, I've been following Mule's progress and its a really great robot, its a shame there's no snow where I am.
I can't wait to see Mule mowing grass!

[Admin]

I just finished ready something a close friend wrote about snowmageddon of last year . . . a friend of mine was pregnant and expecting her water to break during the snow storm. Her husband was freaking out, worried that his car will be trapped in the snow, so he was out plowing the never-ending snow . . .

Right after I finished reading I saw this . . .


Anyway, back onto topic . . . have you considered turning this into a product? I can see quite a lot of people buying this . . . it'll take a lot more work, but it looks very profitable at least on first glance

[Tommy]

I can't wait to see Mule mowing grass!

voyager2
I can't either wait to see the Mule mow properly, on a difficultly scale of 1 to 10, precision path mowing is a 45.

Anyway, back onto topic . . . have you considered turning this into a product?

Admin
Too soon to think about, too many unknowns(the Mule is only @5 months old, just a baby).

Tommy

[Tommy]

Tommy's Quote: too many unknowns

George_0003.wmv

While doing the second try at snow plowing the Mule failed, the wheel hub spun on the drive axial cause one
wheel to stop turning. the conditions were very hard for the mule(lots of spinning tires), we had rain that turned
to freezing rain then to snow, with very high winds(40Mph).

I used a 1/4-20 bolt to connect the wheel hub to the drive axial(back to the drawing board)

I also used neoprene to cover the front of the Mule in hope of shedding snow, as you can see, it didn't work.

Tommy 

[macdad-]

While doing the second try at snow plowing the Mule failed, the wheel hub spun on the drive axial cause one
wheel to stop turning. the conditions were very hard for the mule(lots of spinning tires)

Add a de-icing system on board, perhaps gut a space heater or a hair drier and use the coils on that near the wheels to improve traction.

Maybe you could have a Antifreeze dispenser on the drive axles   

[Tommy]

gut a space heater or a hair drier and use the coils on that near the wheels to improve traction.

macdad
I think I can just add weight to increase traction, like add two more batteries over the wheels should
help, plus give me more power to use in your heater idea, to help shed some snow(small heater 12A inside
the front half on the Mule). heating that area could melt off any snow that collects on the neoprene cover.

something to think about.


Tommy

[mirage]

It's beautiful Tommy!

[Tommy]

It's beautiful Tommy!

mirage, it's the plow!, you could put that plow on a purple pig, and it would still look sweet!.
the 10 inch wide wheels with the chains also help

Tommy

[Tommy]

Life is SWEET!

Today my mom got a chance to use the Mule and she said she likes it and would use it, if I can correct
the depth perception issue with the cameras.


Tommy