Wheel condition plays a crucial role in the performance of any robot, so it’s common practice to maintain your robot before testing and especially before a competition. Here are some steps you can take to ensure that any variations in the robot’s performance aren’t due to the wheels:
Before using the robot, wipe the wheels with a cleaning solution of dish soap and water (alternatively, you can use a damp cloth). Allow them to dry completely or wipe them with a dry napkin.
While using the robot, wipe the wheels with a dry cloth as needed.
Softer wheels tend to perform better when slightly worn due to increased friction. Very worn wheels and brand-new wheels may have the opposite effect, though this doesn’t apply to all wheels.
If the rubber and rim are detachable, store them together. Frequently removing the rubber from the rim for storage shortens their lifespan and may loosen the wheels. Although you may not initially notice any slipping between the rubber and rim, over time, this can impact rotation-based positioning consistency.
This Tutorial is used in the following courses and lessons
This is the Line Following course, where you’ll explore essential techniques to help your LEGO robot follow a line with accuracy and stability! We will begin by covering the fundamental concepts of line following, starting with basic wobble line following, which teaches how robots detect and respond to lines. Then, we'll progress to more advanced methods like proportional line following, allowing smoother tracking by adjusting speed based on error values. Finally, you'll dive into the widely-used PID line following technique, where you'll learn how to tune parameters for optimal robot performance. Whether you're a beginner or looking to enhance your robotics skills, this course will guide you through building, coding, and refining your robot's line-following capabilities.
