A number of the "ball-vehicle" ideas that have been floated here recently reminded me of an idea I'd thought of once.

The mental picture: A beach ball with a collection of cables inside arranged something like the coordinate axes, on which are mounted sliding weights. As the weights move, the center of gravity shifts and the ball rolls. Simple.

Now, more detail:

Start with a large ball. Run a taut cable on the inside down the middle. Mount on it a 10 kg. contraption that can move back and forth along it, using a small motor and wheels.

Then run two more cables parallel to each other and perpendicular to the first, one on either side. On each of these, mount a 5 kg motorized sliding doohickey.

Finish with two more cables on the outside of the LAST two, and perpendicular to BOTH previous sets of cables. Again, each should have a 5 kg doohickey.

A computerized system moves the weights back and forth in a roughly sinosoidal motion to continually keep the center of gravity ahead of the point of contact with the ground, applying a torque to the ball and causing it to roll.

That's the essence of the idea. Run with it!
-- TerranFury, Jan 26 2004

HB: r/c bowling ball http://www.halfbake...fc_20bowling_20ball
Similar drive mechanism. [Laughs Last, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]

(?) Ballmobile http://www.egr.msu....tomikfil/page5.html
Uses weights to make forward motion. CAD plans available for download. [Klaatu, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]

I'm thinkin' "giant hamster ball."
-- spacecadet, Jan 26 2004


In New Zealand where I am we've got this thing called a ZORB an inflatable ball that you jump into and then you get rolled down a huge hill, no control but fun ;-)
-- EZB, Jan 26 2004


I need to visit New Zealand now.
-- theonecalledzil, Jan 26 2004


Well, it DOES need a powersource...
-- TerranFury, Jan 27 2004


sp: taut.
-- friendlyfire, Jan 27 2004


[friendlyfire], maybe he only uses educated cables.
-- GenYus, Jan 27 2004


Good catch.
-- TerranFury, Jan 27 2004


Sounds baked. <link>
-- Klaatu, Jan 28 2004


Had this idea years ago. Thought it would be good for a tank, the whole sphere could be armored.
-- TD3, Aug 04 2004


Is this supposed to be for tranporting people?
-- BJS, Jun 03 2006



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