first project

[flyingcarpet]

i am helping out with our middle school musical and need to create a "flying carpet". Was thinking of a wooden platform where the performer will sit on top, with a driver laying below. Speed is no concern, in fact the slower the better!!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Half-breeder]

i am helping out with our middle school musical and need to create a "flying carpet". Was thinking of a wooden platform where the performer will sit on top, with a driver laying below. Speed is no concern, in fact the slower the better!!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Flying carpets make no noise... so I personally would make a 'pedal' powered frame... or electric... (pedal being cheaper and easier).

 

[Badot]

Flying carpets make no noise... so I personally would make a 'pedal' powered frame... or electric... (pedal being cheaper and easier).

Well... you are in the electric projects forum

How much does the carpet have to move/turn though? Running a wire across the stage to pull it could solve some headaches if possible.

Something I would consider for safety would be that once you drop the gearing you may have a lot of torque... it would be good to get a weaker motor that would not be able to make it 'plow' other stuff around, or that so if a wheel fell off the stage the belly dragging would stop it.

 

[flyingcarpet]

I anticipate the system having to move figure-8 type movements around the stage, one or more times.
Yes a low torque motor would be preferable so that we crush anyone/thing.
Any suggestions on the HP motor I should look for?

Thanks,

 

[flyingcarpet]

Sorry, so the we DON'T crush anyone!!

 

[jeeperjoel]

was thinking used mobility scooter, but those can be expensive, the turning radius would be an advantage, just remove everything down to chassis height and modify, another idea is running gear out of a power wheels kids toy, those can be had cheap, sometimes free on CL, worry about axle not being able to handle weight of 2 kids and platform, another idea: box frame with caster wheels under platform, handle for kid underneath to push around squatted down, long "carpet" to hide assembly... probably the cheapest and easiest way, though doubt it'd be as fun as something motorized lol....

 

[flyingcarpet]

Yea the non-motorized version would be cheaper and easier, but...
You're right, not as much fun!! I would like to have a go at the motorized verison.
I think the power wheels would have trouble supporting the weight.

 

[Badot]

Maybe you could take the box frame on casters idea and make a single driven wheel engage the floor at the center-front, kind of like an outboard motor in reverse. Should be rather simple and inexpensive.

 

[flyingcarpet]

5 wheels sounds ok -- gives me the stability I need.
How do I rate the motor I would need? If the whole assembly (loaded) would be 300 pounds?

 

[dcastillo]

500W should work with the gearing being low...
my concern is how you would turn it for tight figure 8's though...

idea you could use oval wheels to make it go up and down as it drives
or is that a bad idea????
LOL

 

[Axx3d]

500W should work with the gearing being low...
my concern is how you would turn it for tight figure 8's though...

Could always use 2 separate motors to drive front n rear wheels.. sort of tank style controls..

 

[flyingcarpet]

I like the idea of oval wheels! The stage is fairly large so we wouldn't need really small turning radius.

 

[flyingcarpet]

After researching on the web, and the ideas here, I'm thinking of:
-2 x 24v wheelchair motors for propulsion and steering
-something like a Sabertooth dual 25A motor driver
-a 2-function joystick for the "pilot's" control

Thoughts on my heading in this direction??

(Also, will the above set-up give me forward and reverse control of the motors?)

Thanks.

 

[Badot]

-2 x 24v wheelchair motors for propulsion and steering
-something like a Sabertooth dual 25A motor driver
-a 2-function joystick for the "pilot's" control

Thoughts on my heading in this direction??

(Also, will the above set-up give me forward and reverse control of the motors?)

Any reason you can't just rip the entire powertrain out of one of the joystick controlled scooters? Should give you motor, controller, and stick.

 

[flyingcarpet]

I could hack a wheelchair for everything I need, but I guess I haven't found one cheap enough yet (only ebay so far). I will continue to look toward that solution (I still have some time before I need to begin constructing this thing); ultimately I guess I will go with whatever is the cheapest solution.
Any other sources besides ebay anyone?

Thanks for all the input so far!!

 

[Badot]

Definitely check craigslist or whatever the go-to swapmeet website in your area is.