The Rolling Stone
A Spherical Wheel Drive Mechanism


 

Project Overview

The Team

How it Works

Software, Control and Electronics

The Build
-Structure
-Friction Drive
-Tension Wheel
-Electronics
-Assembly

Applications and Advantages

Materials

Obstacles and Challenges

Video

 

 

 

 

 

Project Overview

The Rolling Stone is a vehicle propelled by a spherical drive wheel.

The basic design is conceptually similar to an inverted mouse ball where the rollers drive the sphere instead of the other way around.  The rollers are at a right angle to each other so that one controls forward motion while the other controls side-to-side motion, or any combination of the two.  By varying the relative speeds of the 12V drive motors, the cart can be propelled in any desired direction.

Use the navigation bar at left to learn more about the project.