A mechanical toy car (without electronics) should turn on detecting obstruction

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on creating a purely mechanical toy car that can detect and respond to obstructions. Participants highlight the challenges of achieving input and signal interpretation without electronics, noting that while action mechanisms can be simple, adapting movement based on detection is complex. A suggestion is made for a design where the car could physically touch an obstruction, triggering a mechanism that allows it to reverse and steer away. The feasibility of using a mechanical "foot" to push the car back and turn its wheels is proposed. Ultimately, the consensus is that while some mechanical adaptations are possible, achieving true obstacle detection without electronics is highly challenging.
vivsarda14
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
HI all.
I wanted to make a toy car (except battery and motor completely mechanical) which should turn and move along on detecting an obstruction. I saw such a toy car but unable to get the design. Please help guys...
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
Not really feasabile to do it by mechanical only. You can do a mechanically programmed car that will move in a certain pattern but not one that will adapt.

The problem boils down to:

Input -> Signal interpretation -> Action

Using purely mechanical means input and signal interpretation are incredibly difficult (read nearly impossible) to achieve.

The action part is really easy, that could be done by rotating a steering wheel by hydraulics or pneumatics or an electric motor that turns a wheel.
 
Dude Even i was amazed but our sir showed us that and told it is done using some gears and the toy costs less than 100 rupees. It is possible dude ...
 
Let us know the details then.
 
vivsarda14 said:
Dude Even i was amazed but our sir showed us that and told it is done using some gears and the toy costs less than 100 rupees. It is possible dude ...

When you say 'detecting an obstruction'. Can the car touch the obstruction? If yes then it can be done mechanically, if not then it can't.

I immedately thought of avoiding the obstuction, which requires a non contact sensor. As such the sensor itsself will have an electrical output.
 
It will touch and then turn ...
Do u no how?
 
Some sort of leg out front that when it touches an obstruction, will push the car backwards and the front wheels to the side enough times to get it out of the obstructions way. The foot would run all the time (connected to the drive shaft).
 
Back
Top