42140 - App-controlled Transformation Vehicle

[howitzer]

2 hours ago, pleegwat said:

Something interesting I just spotted about this: the frontmost and rearmost sprocket are different, and it appears to be the same sprocket on the rear on both sides. To keep it controllable, this would mean they have to invert the controls when it flips upside down.

Though on second thought they may just be using the gravity sensor on the hub to do that in software, rather than having any kind of interesting mechanism.

So they finally made a set which actually makes functional use of the internal sensors of the hub, instead of just providing some nice graphics on a screen.

[deehtha]

2 hours ago, pleegwat said:

Something interesting I just spotted about this: the frontmost and rearmost sprocket are different, and it appears to be the same sprocket on the rear on both sides. To keep it controllable, this would mean they have to invert the controls when it flips upside down.

Though on second thought they may just be using the gravity sensor on the hub to do that in software, rather than having any kind of interesting mechanism.

If you look closely at the little picture in the lower left, it shows the main image flipping over backward, and then driving forward as the truck looking body. Does not look like there is any change in the direction the tracks spin.

[Johnny1360]

If they don't change direction, after flipping over, wouldn't it just continue flipping off the wall over and over?

[Andman]

9 minutes ago, Johnny1360 said:

If they don't change direction, after flipping over, wouldn't it just continue flipping off the wall over and over?

Jep. But the solution is really simple. I think it was mentioned before. The app just reads the position of the hub. The direction of the motors are then accordingly adjusted.

I wonder if the flipping mechanism is supported by spring, so it is held in place after flipping.

[Johnny1360]

Be nice to see the hub being used for an actual function, hopefully it works that way.

[Andman]

I checked @kbalage video again. It looks like the orange cabin has to black pieces on top. Could be two small wheels...

I'm really afraid of that the flipping mechanism is just based on gravity, means these small wheels have always contact to the grounds. Center of rotation of the flipping mechanism is very likely the rear axle.

Edited December 15, 2021 by Andman
typo

[Johnny1360]

Pretty much the way I see it too, although it wouldn't bother me at all, to be wrong and in fact find out there is some special mechanism. I just know how these RC Tracked vehicles are usually quite simple in their designs. 

Edited December 16, 2021 by Johnny1360

[TechnicRCRacer]

I think it will be like those flipping car toys, where there is no “mechanism” that flips it over. I bet it is meant to be driven against a wall/ramp and then flip upside down. I agree with others about using the gyro to invert controls when flipped. I believe that the wheel on top is meant to drag on the floor and push the ends of the treads higher so it flips over. The tracks definitely flip with the vehicle since you can see blue panels facing up and black panels facing down.

[Kostq]

If you squint hard enough on Balage's video you can see the orange section of the vehicle having two BLACK parts on the orange top. Thus - two wheels.

So it'll drag it's belly both directions. The blue side due to the design will have only 1 wheel, and the orange due to the chonky looks will have two wheels.

Don't be surprised when the set says "INDOOR USE ONLY". This time it won't be the IR's range, nope. It'll be - would you like to scrape half of your model or not :D
Just as 42065's body wasn't fully fixed in place and used GRAVITY to stay put. Or it was a part of the "suspension" - we'll never know.

@racingbrick - can you take a closer photo on the transform function photo a.k.a. the only thing we have to speculate on?

Edited December 16, 2021 by GTS

[Andman]

And btw, to drive up a wall and flip over you need traction, especially on flat surfaces. From what I can see so far there are no rubber pieces on the tracks. I wonder how well it will work.

[kbalage]

8 hours ago, GTS said:

@racingbrick - can you take a closer photo on the transform function photo a.k.a. the only thing we have to speculate on?

The resolution of the print won't show you a lot, but yeah those can be 2 small wheels. But the position is still weird if this thing really only relies on gravity.

[astyanax]

Would it be so naive to expect the transformation to be achieved via a spring-loaded mechanism? That can be very simple and effective in keeping the bottom off the floor. The wheel on top is then just to prevent scratching at the moment of flipping.

[pleegwat]

If the body is only resting on those small little wheels, that'd mean very little traction on the threads to which the motors are linked. Causing trouble with the flip function.

So I do expect something spring-loaded.

[madn3ss795]

6 hours ago, Andman said:

And btw, to drive up a wall and flip over you need traction, especially on flat surfaces. From what I can see so far there are no rubber pieces on the tracks. I wonder how well it will work.

I see one rubber insert per track on the outer side. Two inserts per track would have been nice, I tried 42095 with just one insert and it was wobbly.

[Johnny1360]

Thinking a little more about it, I guess if it is like I think and there is no mechanism, then when it climbs the wall, wouldn't the bottom section drop thru and stick out of the bottom, before it actually stands up against the wall. It is clearly not like that in the little picture.

And yes, I definitely see rubber pegs in those treads, always glad to get more of those, I really do need to break done and just buy some already, lol.

Edited December 16, 2021 by Johnny1360

[Andman]

15 hours ago, madn3ss795 said:

I see one rubber insert per track on the outer side.

I should clean my glasses more often :-)

[R0Sch]

Source: JB-Spielwaren.de

Edited January 30, 2022 by R0Sch

[astyanax]

On 12/14/2021 at 12:24 PM, astyanax said:

So what are we seeing on the rear spoiler? Panel extenders like but only 1M wide?

I'm still looking at that rear spoiler... Still looks like new parts to me.

[Zerobricks]

They are new parts, aka panel extensions.

[R0Sch]

12 minutes ago, astyanax said:

I'm still looking at that rear spoiler... Still looks like new parts to me.

Nah. Just recolors of this:

[LvdH]

On 12/14/2021 at 7:40 PM, LvdH said:

Don’t know about that, it looks more like standard blue to me. Look at the pins. They look exactly the same color as the liftarms. 

And once again I was right  

Looks good though, the parts on the spoiler definitely look new to me. 

[Zerobricks]

4 minutes ago, R0Sch said:

Nah. Just recolors of this:

No, put one next to the panel and you will see. They are new parts.

[LvdH]

4 minutes ago, R0Sch said:

Nah. Just recolors of this: 

They're rounded at the top. 

[2GodBDGlory]

I agree those must be new parts--though they seem kind of pointless, or at least far down on my priority list for new parts...

Looks like it's got the screw-in PU hub, as expected.

Are those paint-roller parts for the "steering wheel"-type thing on the blue side?

[Zerobricks]

4 minutes ago, 2GodBDGlory said:

Are those paint-roller parts for the "steering wheel"-type thing on the blue side?

Just like 42095 used them to hold mirrors

Edited January 30, 2022 by Zerobricks