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2021-04-20 Meeting Minutes - Drivetrain

2021-04-20 Meeting Minutes - Drivetrain

May 18, 2021

  • 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)