Four-Motor Crawler

[wheelyking4x4x4]

Axial were supposed to be making a kit for the xr10 to put cutting brakes on the rear axle which is the same sort of thing and would be great for a tractor build but I don't think they have done any more with it.

I would love to see a system like the OP but it would be an expensive project

[30YrsL8r]

This project has been on hold while I find time to reconfigure my Atmel prototyping board for the ESC control, but this morning I got an email from HobbyKing that put me on to what looks like the perfect (and cheap) solution:

http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__45780__Multiwii_and_Megapirate_AIO_Flight_Controller_w_FTDI_ATmega_2560_V2_0_UK_Warehouse_.html

More research required, but I know how to program these chips so this could be the ideal platform for the "brain" of the four-motor setup....

[Gumbajv]

You might look at these as an alternative to the gru gearboxes. They were around $15.00 ea and had a couple of gear options. http://s1.zetaboards.com/RCsnowcats/topic/5039027/2/

I had them set up with brushless motors in one of my many snowcat projects. This was the least expensive and easiest way to go. I switched to brushless 800kv T motors which have a narrower and shorter can and doesn't require all the mods I did to the gearhousings to fit in the stock width chassis.

I also built a mini rock crawler using 2 m05 front sections joined together. This gives the options of 4 w/d, 4 w/s, 2w/s with either front or rear wheel drive.

[30YrsL8r]

Thanks for the tip. I bookmarked that page to come back to once I get the proof of concept working (I've already got the gearboxes/motors and cut up a TL01 chassis to "fit" them).

[30YrsL8r]

This kid (?) has a microprocessor-controlled, four-motor crawler using the motors directly as stub axles.

And far too much time on his hands, obviously. Isn't there a street corner he needs to be hanging out on?

[Gumbajv]

You may want to go with brushless motors since they each need their own esc. I used a pair of Exceed Rocket 2015 740k motors and ez run 35a esc's. This would let you program each esc differently. For my 4 wd/4w/s mini clod I used 2 m05 front sections joined together.