Wheels, tracks and rolly-type things [IDEAS and INSPIRATION]

[lo-fi]

Greetings!

The KF dev thread gets rather busy, and I'm quite aware that ideas often get lost, so I've created this thread for people to post and discuss ideas for parts. To be clear, this does not mean "can I have a set of tracks for an M48 patton? kthanksbye". But please do post pics of anything you think looks whacky, interesting, inspiring or just plain cool. Made something awesome with existing wheels? Please post some pics/videos. Got an idea? Let's hear it! Don't be shy if you've posted stuff in the KF thread before - do post again here.

There's some stuff in the works currently, and we're currently doing a proper config pass on the KF stuff, but you've always got to keep an eye on what to do next, so fire away!

[*Aqua*]

I used this as an inspiration:

And this is the result:

Javascript is disabled. View full album

*hmmm*

[micha030201]

Kerbal Foundries mod is just awesome! I extremely like the screw drive! I've got two suggestions:

1. Surface mounted screw drive. Now it has a big curvature and my rovers flip over.

2. It would be really nice to have the ability to drive sideways (like this - https://youtu.be/tWL0kdescXk?list=FLZZ8M5tCDKRvebTrfe2CtTA&t=411).

[lo-fi]

I used this as an inspiration:

http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00kMVaRLNhAviO/Small-Robot-Rubber-Tracks-JQ-A-2.jpg

And this is the result:

http://imgur.com/a/dGu3g

*hmmm*

That's awesome. Did talk about something like that with Zodius, but looks like you got it nailed. Very cool!

Kerbal Foundries mod is just awesome! I extremely like the screw drive! I've got two suggestions:

1. Surface mounted screw drive. Now it has a big curvature and my rovers flip over.

2. It would be really nice to have the ability to drive sideways (like this - https://youtu.be/tWL0kdescXk?list=FLZZ8M5tCDKRvebTrfe2CtTA&t=411).

The screw drive came about from someone posting a vid of that ZIL thingy! They're a bit of a cludge tbh, so making the sideways rolling isn't as easy as it might seem, but I'll give it something thought. Do you mean you'd like longer screws? And thanks

[riocrokite]

I'll start with this:

1. wide medium tracks

2. wide large tracks

---large---

- - - Updated - - -

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I think KSP also lacks ruggerized medium and large industrial wheels (imho they don't need to turn at all or just narrow turn so they can be mounted closer to the body)

[lo-fi]

They shouldn't be too hard I'll do a set of those tracks as part of my modding stream on Wednesday.

[riocrokite]

cool, cheers I have plenty of other design ideas but won't post it all at once not to overwhelm you with choices

[lo-fi]

Haha! Bring it on I'll demo set like that because they're simple. All the suspension is hidden, so no complex modeling or config - can definitely achieve in a couple of hours.

[*Aqua*]

1. wide medium tracks

2. wide large tracks

In my opinion we need more slender tracks. Nearly all of them are wider than 1 meter. In reality wide tracks are limited to the cases you posted. But for smaller vehicles (like panzers, excavators, etc.) the tracks have a width of less than 1 meter.

Some of the parts are so big I don't even know what to do with them. For example the large wheel is so gigantic I'll never image myself putting it on top of a rocket.

I would like to have fuselages of different sizes and capatibilites (EC only, EC & LF only, EC & LF/O only) I can attach the tracks and wheels on to. Atm there's only the Mobile Frame System which has suiting parts for that. But they are on the bigger side too. There's nothing which fits into a cargo bay of a Mk2 space plane.

[lo-fi]

I guess I tend to lead toward the wide look because it sort of fits with the outlandish Kerbal design ethos - recreating real stuff in-game verbatim has never interested me in the slightest, I must admit. You do know they all support TweakScale and there are quite a few small parts now, though?

Agreed on the rover body parts: that is definitely a gap that needs filling. Something I've never really had any inspiration for, though, sadly. I might have to watch a few more Jerry Anderson series! A scaled down, Kerbalised Overlander from Terrahawks might be cool, thinking about it...

[micha030201]

The screw drive came about from someone posting a vid of that ZIL thingy! They're a bit of a cludge tbh, so making the sideways rolling isn't as easy as it might seem, but I'll give it something thought. Do you mean you'd like longer screws? And thanks

I mean, now screws kinda end at one point. In ZIL vehicle they don't. They are mounted at their ends, not their center, so they are parallel to the ground and touch it with all their length. I hope you understood me.

I don't know if it's worth trying to make screws roll sideways. As far as I understand they now work similar to tracks, and making them roll sideways would require a whole new module. It would still be a nice feature to have, someday.

There is a lot to take inspiration from in this video. I can translate it for you if you ask.

[riocrokite]

In my opinion we need more slender tracks. Nearly all of them are wider than 1 meter. In reality wide tracks are limited to the cases you posted. But for smaller vehicles (like panzers, excavators, etc.) the tracks have a width of less than 1 meter.

Some of the parts are so big I don't even know what to do with them. For example the large wheel is so gigantic I'll never image myself putting it on top of a rocket.

I would like to have fuselages of different sizes and capatibilites (EC only, EC & LF only, EC & LF/O only) I can attach the tracks and wheels on to. Atm there's only the Mobile Frame System which has suiting parts for that. But they are on the bigger side too. There's nothing which fits into a cargo bay of a Mk2 space plane.

Hmm, for smaller rover bodies there might be something out there:

- bobcat mk2 rover

http://i.gyazo.com/99b08b567635efa86a6f2bc27e2f2b29.png

- USI exploration pack

https://github.com/BobPalmer/ExplorationPack/releases

- ASET portbale rover components:

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/86343-New-project-from-ASET

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Slender tracks, personally I don't need them but can see a need from different perspective.

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ok, 2nd pack of ideas (futuristic stuff)

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twin-wheels (function similar to tracks but without actual track?)

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inflatable wheels (easier to fit in fairing when deflated); normal way inflation -> increase diameter of wheel

========

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inflatable wheels - another idea - constant diameter but inflating sideways increasing width of wheel (how wide are wheels). So for transportation they are very narrow.

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[lo-fi]

I like the inflatable wheels!

Swing axles are rather difficult, sadly, as it requires a kinematic rig with joints. I do know quite a lot about them now, so maybe one day I'll feel brave enough to write a module

[*Aqua*]

You do know they all support TweakScale and there are quite a few small parts now, though?

Yep, I know

Unfortunately somehow TweakScale provokes the NaN virus on my system. So I have to wait until it's fixed or an alternative emerges.

Inspiration for a slender track if you want to make one.

And now something completely different

A track with a solid frame which allows attaching things on to it would open up a lot of possibilities.

Maybe this needs two parts (frame + track).

[riocrokite]

Yah tracks with solid frame are quite nice, apart from surface attach ability they can store some resources inside, fuel cells-power generation or be KIS/KAS enabled thus reducing part count

Swing axles are rather difficult, sadly, as it requires a kinematic rig with joints. I do know quite a lot about them now, so maybe one day I'll feel brave enough to write a module

Well yah, however I feel that one of workarounds might be to construct them as tracks with big swing potential.

==== wheel concept with integrated fuel cell ===

+ it recharges during breaking

======== large wide surface wheeled track ===

============ hovertrack ===============

[lo-fi]

Keep em coming! Regen braking would be cool, and so simple to do. By the way, if you spot anything that will work well as a wheel or track texture, please post it!

[*Aqua*]

Another idea I came up just a second ago: Every wheel in the game is static. You managed to add tracks which adjust themselves dynamically to the ground. So what about a wheel which can deform when under stress?

I don't know if it's difficult to implement but you should be able to use (most of) the track code for it. "Just" make the track round and texture it like a normal wheel. The more "wheels" you add to the track the more it will look like a real wheel when under stress.

blue - whole track in wheel shape & texture

orange - invisible supporting wheels for the track

left side - relaxed state

right side - under stress

Edited June 3, 2015 by *Aqua*

[riocrokite]

Another idea I came up just a second ago: Every wheel in the game is static. You managed to add tracks which adjust themselves dynamically to the ground. So what about a wheel which can deform when under stress?

http://www.matthias-martinsohn.de/Bilder/Bordstein/DX3_6396.jpg

I don't know if it's difficult to implement but you should be able to use (most of) the track code for it. "Just" make the track round and texture it like a normal wheel. The more "wheels" you add to the track the more it will look like a real wheel when under stress.

http://i.imgur.com/DRVHIsw.png

blue - whole track in wheel shape & texture

orange - invisible supporting wheels for the track

left side - relaxed state

right side - under stress

cool idea. personally I wouldn't make it priority since there might be more downsides than upsides to it (cpu load with multiple wheels, limited usage - not many 'curb' stuff on planets).

[Tontow]

What about a ball bearing roller?

Or a wheel that has rollers on it? - Go look up an image of forklifts that can move sideways. It is almost a screw, but not quite.

Steerable and non-steerable caster wheels?

[*Aqua*]

I'm not sure about the downsides. For example most of the tracks already have numerous supporting wheels. And you don't need curbs. A heavy load should be enough to let it look more like an egg instead of a circle.

I think it will be difficult to balance wheel deformation and the suspension. Both have to work hand in hand to look and feel realistic.

@Tontow

Those wheels are named omni wheels or mechanum wheels. ZodiusInfuser of IR model rework is already working on that.

Edited June 4, 2015 by *Aqua*

[lo-fi]

Deformable tyres would be really sweet, but also quite hard to do.

Indeed, the mecanum wheels are looking really good!

[*Aqua*]

I tried to build a Kethane mining truck with wheels & tracks a few minutes ago but gave up using them. They are just not fast enough for my taste. I got a top speed of ~23 m/s (~82 km/h). Ok that's not exactly slow but I want faster wheels.

So what about racing wheels that can go up to ~50-75 m/s (180 - 270 km/h)? Of course the player has to think about stabilizing the car himself when racing hills up and down.

And give them less grip to allow burn-outs! ^^

[Feradose]

How about some extra durability chain wheels like you see on some rovers? They shouldnt 'pop' but break the chains, causing it to lose a lot of grip, if possible. It could make high speed vertical landings a bit more easy given a good suspension. They should be extra heavy too.

[lo-fi]

I'm sure someone made some racing type wheels, Aqua. If you can find them, I'll happily do configs

That sounds interesting. Got any reference pics handy, kweller?

[Feradose]

here, a chainmail wheel.

Edited June 10, 2015 by Feradose
gotta do fast