Moving Along on Square Wheels

erco

We've all seen this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgbWu8zJubo

But this is novel: shifting CG causes passive out-of-phase wheels to roll forward (jump to 1:50):

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

At first I was going, "Ho hum: square wheels, bouncy ride," but when it finally hit me that the wheels are unpowered, wow! That's one inventive kid!

-Phil

GordonMcComb

He is a smart kid, but the "problem" -- at least at first glance -- is that it takes more energy to move the top mass around than to individually power the wheels, whether square or round (or Erco's fav, triangles).

-- Gordon

erco

Yep, the shifting CG is the key. It's similar to the old ramp walker toys of the 1950s.

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

erco wrote:

It's similar to the old ramp walker toys of the 1950s.

'Don't remember those. 'Must be before my time. (Oh, wait. )

-Phil

GordonMcComb

Okay, what's with the Five O'Clock Shadow on Fred and Barney?

I met Joe Barbera once in the late-mid 70s. Also met his daughter, Jayne, who worked for him doing marketing stuff. You remember their classic pop building on Cahuenga? Your Corvair would look just perfect parked out on the curb in front!

-- Gordon

erco

'Member this poor baby in the news?

http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/08/30/us-california-wildfires-idUSTRE57R3G820090830

And after... http://jalopnik.com/5350274/this-corvair-is-exactly-why-we-need-the-evergreen-747-supertanker

GordonMcComb

What am I supposed to be looking at again? That Corvair looks perfectly normal to me...