2021-04-20 Meeting Minutes - Drivetrain

Owned by
amillsem@uwaterloo.ca
Last updated: May 18, 2021 by
Ethan Cronier
2 min read
  • DRIVETRAIN FOLDER from Summer 2020! Contains a lot of similar questions
  • Reference 2021 rover for mechanism weights and CoG


  • Carbon fibre research
    • Typically include mounting points in the mold when creating a carbon fibre member
      • Cutting and drilling must be done using sharper tools (i.e. diamond drill bits)
        • Should avoid as much as possible
      • From what we can see: Michigan doesn't machine their carbon fibre boxtube → clamp to tube, using inserts, adhesive to a receptacle tube, etc.
      • One technique used in industry is to fuse aluminum caps to the ends of carbon fibre tubes
        • Glue a fibreglass cloth in between the aluminum and carbon fibre to prevent galvanic corrosion of the aluminum → how much of a concern is this?
    • Consider molding the parts in-house, will need to cure → Waterloo might have the tools?
    • Initial build with PVC, aluminum, or wood
    • Next steps: interviewing Asha's coworker to ask about their experience implementing carbon fibre into design
  • Flexible drivetrain styles
    • Goal: chassis stability, keep as level as possible
    • Next steps: look into off-road vehicles & baja design (6wd?)
    • Next steps: 4wd VS 6wd
      • 6wd
        • More stability, more contact VS more scrub, weight, complication
        • Dig up 2019 drivetrain?? → documentation on google drive
          • Contact Tony & Nathan for advice
    • Drop test rover (sick flex??)
    • Prototype tiny PLA replicas of the drivetrain design or with Lego (shit's rigid)
  • Member types & implementation
    • Ask Hamza for experience with carbon fibre while on Ryerson Rams
  • Wheels
    • Custom wheels → custom hubs → easier for mounting motors within wheels
      • Otherwise, have to design within the constraints of COTS wheel hubs
    • Compliant wheel internal design
      • Hub shape less equation-based, more aesthetic + FEA justified


  • For next meeting (Sunday afternoon)...
    • Come prepared with starting points for prototyping
    • For most topics, look at the advantages and disadvantages for each method
    • Look into mounting solutions for chassis (mechanisms to chassis, chassis to drivetrain)