Interchangeable wheel/track for skid steers

[DavidLevin]

My company developed a platform that can interchange between wheels and tracks (video demonstration here: http://www.galileomobility.com/?p=369). Although it is currently implemented in smaller platforms such as military robotics, our recent R&D shows that it is also feasible for skid steers and other small construction machines (here’s an illustration of a larger articulated tractor:illustration here: http://www.galileomobility.com/?page_id=36). Our main issue before developing something like this is would this be needed? Assume this could work as well as a normal rubber track and would cost the same, but could also function like a normal wheel, is this something you would need?


Thanks,

Dave

[allinearth]

I could see these being useful in all kind of equipment apps. But only if they could be made durable enough to withstand construction sites. I am wondering what kind of material will stretch like that and still be durable to hold up and provide traction. What about the mud that will accumulate inside the wheel. Seems like it would keep the tracks from retracting.

[bobcat_ron]

Too many moving parts, I can see the issues that we are already having with the CTL/MTL debate popping up in that system, plus the added weight.

[DavidLevin]

Thank you for your comments. Allow me to clarify:

The track does not stretch, it only folds and unfolds. The mechanism that extracts the track from wheel to track and contracts back to a wheel also pushes mud and debris out. This was what we experienced with the military robots.

Our question is, is there a job where you would love to have access to both a wheel and a track?

[Junior M]

Thank you for your comments. Allow me to clarify:

The track does not stretch, it only folds and unfolds. The mechanism that extracts the track from wheel to track and contracts back to a wheel also pushes mud and debris out. This was what we experienced with the military robots.

Our question is, is there a job where you would love to have access to both a wheel and a track?
If it folds, how would that work if the tracks were covered in mud and rock, wouldnt that mess up the folding process?

[BrandonV]

very cool, I especially see where the big harvester market would eat this up out west. I don't know about replacing a skid steer with it because it would seem like all the crazy turns we do would put a lot of load on it but I bet most articulated loaders would benefit from these greatly.

[DavidLevin]

BrandonV, thank you for the comment. Can you help us better understand the specific application and why this would be useful?

[CAT powered]

VERY cool system. I'm not sure where it would have a use in the construction industry, but nonetheless it is a very cool system.

You'll have a hard time convincing anyone that they need it though. Especially in this economy.

[Treemow]

Dump trucks and fertilizer/lime trucks would really benefit from this.

[CAT powered]

I could see where it would be handy on an ADT now that I think of it more.

[Treemow]

I was thinking of the "Tread Lightly Program". Where ground is protected you could use the wheels to get to the location, then fold the tracks out when you go offroad. I seen this news letter where Canada was studying using these gigantic super singles on the rear of dump trucks to inhibit soil compaction.

[Treemow]

By dump trucks I mean on the road dumps.

[Mule100]

Many times on skid steers i see owners wanting a wheel unit for hard surfaces and track machines for soft. This way you would have both at all times and ready for almost anything.

[BigDigger]

VERY cool system. I'm not sure where it would have a use in the construction industry, but nonetheless it is a very cool system.

You'll have a hard time convincing anyone that they need it though. Especially in this economy.

That's why you design and build it now so it's ready to market when things turn around.

I agree with other posters here, the skid steer application while cool would just tear it up I think, sit a 3-5 ton machine on those with the type of turning done it might chew them up badly.

On an articulation loader this could make sense.

Let's just say this up front. If you want to sell these, you better put some time into figuring out how to make these replaceable tracks affordable. Many people can eat initial cost, most people don't want to eat the premium and then pay the CTL MTL tax.....massive undercarriage costs. If your track prices make sense then this will go along way.

WE all know that we will pay more to own and operate a tracked machine....but push that paradigm too far and you will only be small time.

Right now the market needs someone to improve on what's out there, not just re-invent the wheel. If you can do this and keep maintenance costs reasonable you might have a winner.

I would also suggest that if you avoid the whole construction segment you may very well shorten your development time if you don't need to worry about making it super durable for construction purposes and you focus on farming/ ATV's etc then that might help too

IMHO of course.

[BigDigger]

Many times on skid steers i see owners wanting a wheel unit for hard surfaces and track machines for soft. This way you would have both at all times and ready for almost anything.

Yeah I agree,

problem is in this system if you wear the wheel you are wearing the track. too, or at least a part of it, in a heavy application this could mean uneven track wear due to the fold up mechanism?

I would love to see this on an ATV. Non skidding application could see some nice benifits. Perhaps for trucks too? Just keep those track prices down(ish) and perhaps it could take off.

I sure like the concept, it's excellent. Meant to say that before BTW

[DavidLevin]

If it folds, how would that work if the tracks were covered in mud and rock, wouldnt that mess up the folding process?

The mechanism that folds and unfolds also pushes out the mud during travel of the track and folding back into a wheel. In the robots, albeit much smaller, mud is mud we were concerned about this as well. As it turns out in rigorous military testing that it has yet to fail. We believe we can replicate this with the larger implementation. Here's a picture of the robot after a long day in the mud: http://www.galileomobility.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/ViperMud.JPG

[DavidLevin]

Guys, thanks for all your comments and thoughts on this.

We are now at a major decision point. What is clear from the things you said is that price, durability and reliability are key here. If we can't provide that, its just another gimmick. We now need to develop this technology for a larger machine. As you know, each machine, each application is a world of its own. We therefor want to focus at first on one application, one need where this can solve a major problem. A few things that were mentioned were:
Harvester market
Dump trucks/fertilizer
ADT
ATV
Walkbehinds

Can you guys give us more specifics on how it would be used, how it would improve productivity?

[CAT powered]

If you had those on an ADT you would not have to worry about getting stuck.

If you had a mud hole you had to cross you could just fold the tracks down and go right across. Then you can fold them back up and go.

It would also be helpful on tractors because you could use the tires to get it down the street to the field and then fold out the tracks when you're on the field. That would help reduce compaction and you would be putting less wear on the machine when you are on the street.

[Treemow]

I believe that the reduction of compaction would be very desirable. I think the device would be good in areas of snow. If you were leaving a road that had been plowed free of snow and were going into an area that had not been maintained the track system would be very handy.

[allinearth]

Wow, an atv with those on it would be unstoppable.:cool2: