The interlock drive system greatly increases field mobility, especially for light weight machines. The videos below demonstrate high tractive power on loose beach sand, the climb and descend on loose soil at an inclination of 30 degrees, and a detailed study of tractive power on dry and wet soil. These challenges are sometimes referred to as extreme mobility.
| Utopus bulldozer
This video shows how the interlock drive system allows a light machine to generate high traction on loose sandy beach soil |
|
| High traction on dry and on very wet soil
Detailed study of how the spikes of an interlock drive system enter the ground under various soil conditions, including soft and compacted soil and dry and wet soil |
|
| Utopus climbs a hill at 30 degree inclination
The maximum inclination we could ever try was 40 degree and the result was similar. It is difficult to find loose soil of an even steeper inclination. This mixture of dry sand and small rocks is called regolith and is typical for an extraterrestrial exploration challenge like on Mars. |
|
| Utopus climbs a hill at 30 degree inclination. Again.
We also want to try a low gravity situation (remember, we don't need ballast to generate force!) but we haven't found any low gravity situation yet. If you have one, please give us a call! |
) |
| Utopus climbs another hill | ) |
| Closeup study of spikes
Detailed study of how the spikes of an interlock drive system enter the ground |
|