What exactly is a zero radius turn vehicle?

banerjeerupak

Well for my project in 6th sem, i'm planning to make a zero radius turn vehicle. What i understand by a zero radius turning vehicle is that it should keep the centre of mass at a fixed position and then rotate so that it moves 180 degrees. That is the maximum movement i should be able to show i guess.

Am i right in my concept??

DaveC426913

Certianly sounds like "turn on a dime" to me.

Andre

A helicopter can do it.

FredGarvin

So can some lawn mowers and tanks and fork lifts.

brewnog

And skid-steer loaders, excavators, bulldozers, supermarket trolleys....

Danger

I'm not sure, but I think that the Jeep Hurricane can as well; it has 4-wheel steering.

banerjeerupak

so you feel that my idea is correct. i know how to make it work. only thing is that i should not be making something else. and how on earth does a 4 wheel steering work

banerjeerupak

by the way, i know a helicopter can do it. but it does not have to rotate wheels to do it. its very different for a helicopter and a 4 wheeled vehicle i guess

FredGarvin

Yes they're different. That wasn't the point.

For a 4 wheeled vehicle or tracked vehicle to do a zero radius turn, the two opposing sides drive wheels must be able to rotate in opposite directions at the same time.

banerjeerupak

that is exactly what i'm planning to do....make the two diagonally opposite wheels rotate in opposite directions

Danger

Here's an article about the Hurricane.
http://www.gizmag.com/go/3599/

and another:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/jeep-hurricane.htm

banerjeerupak

well the both the articles are a great read. but what the howstuffworks article says is using a different concept of turning all the wheels in particular directions resulting in net 360 degree turn. not the way of couple that i thought or suggested.....

russ_watters

Wow, yeah, I was gonna say that 4 wheel steering alone won't get you zero turn radius, but that's crazy how they applied it to that Jeep.

banerjeerupak

but just give it a thought..... how do they plan to move the 4 wheels differently.... when in normal conditions they can't do it

Danger

You probably just switch modes with a dash control and the rest is done by computer. This is not the only on-off road vehicle with 4-wheel steering; it's just the most extreme example of it.
By the way, I didn't realize until I reread the article that it won't be put into production.

Mech_Engineer

LOL You do realize it had TWO engines in it, right?! While an interesting concept, what a nightmare if you wanted to buy one.

Exotic, yes. Impractical, absolutely.

Danger

Not just 2 engines--2 Hemis.
As mentioned elsewhere, my grocery-getter is a 4WD El Camino with 33" tires and a 455 Olds Rocket motor, so practicality has never been near the top of my priority list.