Enhancing Climbing Performance of RC Crawlers: The Impact of Inverse Rotating Drive Shaft Systems

This study proposes a novel Inverse Rotating Drive Shaft System (IRDSS) to mitigate torque twist and enhance climbing stability in Radio-Controlled (RC) crawlers. By counteracting torque-induced rollovers through reverse angular momentum, the IRDSS aims to improve performance on uneven terrains. The study combines real-world testing on simulated terrains, dynamic simulations using RecurDyn, and theoretical analyses to evaluate two RC crawler models: one with the IRDSS and one with a standard transmission. Results showed that the IRDSS-equipped crawler achieved a 7.5% improvement in maximum climb angle on high-friction surfaces, reaching 64.8° compared to 60.3° for the standard model. However, on low-friction surfaces, both models were traction-limited, achieving similar climb angles of approximately 48°. These findings highlight the IRDSS's ability to enhance performance in high-friction environments, offering insights into optimizing RC crawler designs for stability and climbing capability under varied terrain conditions.