HEHSTV

An experimental 8-tracked vehicle. Features 12 motors, 8 for drive and 4 for steering.

Datasheet
Completion Date: 8/20/2011
Power Source: Electric (Power Functions 8878 Rechargeable Battery)
Dimensions: 53x39x13 studs
Drive motors: 8 M-Motors (one for each track)
Total motors: 8 M-Motors, 4 XL-Motors

This project came about while I still had one excavator chassis sitting about. After making four of them for fun, they were connected, and the HEHSTV came to be.

The model itself is driven by eight M-Motors, one for each track. This gave sufficient torque to drive the model over carpet and even some small obstacles. Steering was achieved through four XL-Motors, coupled in pairs by switches. By flipping the switches, one could switch from crab to normal steering.

The structure that connected the four bogies was built with durability in mind. A lot of diagonal trusses were added, and when the vehicle was done, it could carry 16 lbs of weight while driving normally.

All in all, the model had 224 individual track links, which is almost 9 feet of tracks! To drive these tracks, there were 48 road wheels/return rollers and 16 sprockets!

All in all, I am very pleased with this model. In a lot of cases, I had barely enough of one piece, but the model functioned much better than intended. I had two free channels, but only one receiver and two buggy motors, which weren't enough to build any functioning structure on top of the model, which was an idea that came up during building. Still, the model functioned better than expected and was a great building and play experience.

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