Capstans have been used for centuries on ships in order to assist with moving heavy loads that could not have otherwise been lifted. To capitalize on this idea and the capstan equation, a mechanism can be created in such a way that it can engage an unpowered shaft with a prime mover similar to some sort of transmission. The benefits of this design allow for a light weight controllable system that has a variety of applications ranging from that of a moon rover or boat to even cars and other terrestrial vehicles. In order to test this theory a rig was mocked up that would allow for tension control of a rope that would use friction to engage two different shafts, and the data that was collected from this will help highlight the benefits and downsides of an application similar to this. Not only would this be testing general characteristics, but also the materials used and how they would change the system as a whole, such as rope materials, the coefficient of friction and amount of loops on each shaft.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Chavez, Stephen

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-080522-142721
• 71466

Advisor

• Xiao, Jing
• Lewin, Greg

Year

• 2022

Date created

• 2022-08-05

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Robotics Engineering

Source

• E-project-080522-142721

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2022-12-16