Battery Buggy B

[Gemma W]

Oh, I get it. That's a good idea! Our system also uses a ruler, but is possibly marginally less accurate, because you need a straight line from the back. Also, it is difficult to see exactly where on the ruler the point is, although we did make it slightly better.

[Epicfail]

well,the binder clip has something sticking up out of it so i can be easily aligned (with something in the back) States in 2 days

[Gemma W]

Really? Our states were more than three weeks ago, I think. Good luck with your battery buggy!

[sparkx101]

thanks for all the help everyone. states tomorrow cant wait. we have also improved are car with the invention of new batteries it goes about 3-3.5 seconds on 10 meters and still under 10 cm off.

[Gemma W]

That's really good. Good luck to you too. Hopefully we will be able to achieve that also.

What do people use for traction on the wheels?

[sparkx101]

Balloons can work well if you use them correctly. Rubber bands can also work. We used some kind of liquid (i forgot the name) and rubbed it across our wheels every other week. You can probably find something like that. Sandpaper maybe?

[Gemma W]

Yeah, we use silicon tubing, but we aren't sure whether it will be good enough for the surface at nats. It's going to be "poured rubber." Does anyone know what that's like?

[abator]

If it is what I think it is it is like my old school gym. It has a rubber floor. It is not slippery. I am not positive but it will probably slow you car down quite a bit if you don't have good tires. You may also want to try testing your car on a track running surface. That should be very similar.

2011 States Ohio
6th Meteorology First on my team to place at State!
9th Battery Buggy.

[Gemma W]

If it is what I think it is it is like my old school gym. It has a rubber floor. It is not slippery. I am not positive but it will probably slow you car down quite a bit if you don't have good tires. You may also want to try testing your car on a track running surface. That should be very similar.

Thanks, but the only track surfaces we have are bumpy. Is it more similar to polished wood or tiles? I've never seen this kind of surface before, so I don't know.

[illusionist]

I have experienced vehicle-related events on three kinds of floors:
-Racquetball ball courts
-School gym flooring (with thin pieces of wood)
-and a rubber-y material that feels somewhat like hallway tiles

From experience, I suggest testing on multiple surfaces, and collect data so you know how to adjust your vehicle to suit the surface at competition.

[Gemma W]

So you think the rubber will be like hall tiles? We will still test on others, but is that right?

[illusionist]

Something very similar to that. But definitely test on multiple surfaces.

[Gemma W]

Yeah, we are testing the coefficient of friction on various surfaces. At the competition we will test it and change our settings likewise.
How do people go about testing? Do you use increments and math or just try to find something that works?

[disownedpear]

i just keep on testing different settings until something works, but that usualy takes a while

[Gemma W]

Yeah, I'm not sure which is better. Because if you try to collect a lot of data it takes a lot of time to get extra, unnecessary information. However, it can also be more accurate or easier in some ways.

Too bad Battery Buggy won't be an event next year. I guess it makes sense though, because eventually all the cars will become very similar. However, I did learn a lot about mechanics and building. Our nationals car was definitely much improved from the car we had at regionals. Thanks to everyone who made suggestions and helped us with ideas.