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Re: Battery Buggy B
Posted: April 28th, 2011, 6:56 pm
by 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.
Re: Battery Buggy B
Posted: April 28th, 2011, 6:58 pm
by 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
Re: Battery Buggy B
Posted: April 29th, 2011, 2:55 pm
by Gemma W
Really? Our states were more than three weeks ago, I think. Good luck with your battery buggy!
Re: Battery Buggy B
Posted: April 29th, 2011, 5:54 pm
by 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.
Re: Battery Buggy B
Posted: April 29th, 2011, 6:17 pm
by 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?
Re: Battery Buggy B
Posted: May 2nd, 2011, 1:19 pm
by 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?
Re: Battery Buggy B
Posted: May 2nd, 2011, 2:15 pm
by 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?
Re: Battery Buggy B
Posted: May 2nd, 2011, 3:46 pm
by 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.
Re: Battery Buggy B
Posted: May 3rd, 2011, 6:23 pm
by Gemma W
abator wrote: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.
Re: Battery Buggy B
Posted: May 4th, 2011, 5:33 pm
by 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.