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The Soapbox PoC takes its first spins

Here it is, at long last. The Soapbox proof of concept takes to the road. Actually, to the parking lot. It’s a lot safer. :)

I promised video, didn’t I?

First of all, a simple systems check:

Tonight I tightened the transmission chains, they were falling off on tight curves. :) Also adjusted the long board to center the mass a little bit more, the tail was way too heavy. And switched the sealed lead-acid batteries with some lead-gel batteries to increase power.

And after that, a few rides and cartwheels around the place:

Not bad, for an electric vehicle that is completely unballanced and has power controllers that run away in unpredictible manners… :)

This thing is very much like riding a go-kart. I bet that I can get the same thrill at a quarter of the speed… ;)

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This entry was posted on November 11, 2009 at 2:25 am and is filed under Fabrication, Motivation, Trike. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.

3 Comments on “The Soapbox PoC takes its first spins”

  1. John Says:

    November 11, 2009 at 3:59 am

    Dizzy yet … I am just watching :)

    Reply
    • Vasco Névoa Says:

      November 11, 2009 at 10:57 am

      Yep… very high nausea potential. But it is FUN to ride!! :D
      Right now, with such little control over power distribution between the two wheels, I can’t go faster than that. Maybe when I put in the seat I can risk a little more g-force. ;)
      Funny how you really can’t escape Physics; If I block one wheel with the brake and use the other one to spin, the blocked wheel is obviously the center of the rotation; but if I let go of that brake, then the mass center (me) becomes the center of rotation… with the unpowered wheel spining backwards. This is a Physics lab on wheels. Cool.

      Reply

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