Mobius Strip Tank

[@jamesbruton]

I found a use for the Mobius Strip Tank, check out part 2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6W0o5-lfalmedE

[@FIRE_STORMFOX-3692]

James I have an idea! I was thinking about how to make the fastest feasible tank, I realized that the real problem is the sprocket system, what if we moved the track with magnetic fields like a maglev, with very low friction between the tank "wheels" and the track, magnetic suspension and acceleration. this is a very sudden idea so I just leave it here in the hopes you understand what I mean, I was literally thinking about the rocket tank the soviets made when I realized that friction is what's really keeping a tank from reaching higher speeds, wider tracks may help too im not sure.

[@FIRE_STORMFOX-3692]

I got another idea, what if we segmented the body to allow it to flex over surfaces? Almost like a millipede. ( I'm a crazy soviet scientist with nutz ideas if you haven't noticed)

[@matts.1352]

Truly an example of a solution in search of a problem.

[@colonthree]

ACTUALLY... the tracks will get more evenly worn, lasting twice as long (in theory). :'3c

[@TheOfficialOriginalChad]

@@colonthreethis is not an issue with tanks due to the surface area of the contact patch being so much larger than if both sides had to be interlocking with the drivetrain.

[@Smona]

​​@@colonthreealso if the vehicle is designed for dirty ground there could be a cleaning unit on top that cleans the side that's next gonna touch the sprockets

[@davidswanson5669]

@@SmonaI was thinking similarly, but I’m sure there’s flaws in the logic. Still I like the idea of accomplishing something useful to the “inside” when it enters the “inside” track position.

[@conorstewart2214]

@@colonthree actually you just design the outer surface to be more wear resistant with the ground and the inner surface to be more wear resistant with the sprockets and drive gears. Making it like a Möbius strip just means that both sides have to do both and hence compromises need to be made making both sides worse at both. So it would wear better and perform better just with a properly designed normal track.

[@digadigado]

they use mobius strips for conveyor belts, it helps with surface wear

[@NekitGeek]

Why bend not wear strip more?

[@toesandfingers]

because both sides of the belt become the surface, rather than just one@@NekitGeek

[@DadofScience]

I thought I'd seen this in play on mine site conveyors but couldn't be sure that was what was going on. (Edited for clarity, i.e., bad English)

[@jaydeep-p]

​@@toesandfingershe was asking that wouldn't the bend in the strip cause wear?

[@Marc42]

​@@jaydeep-pIf you stay well below the elastic limit it should be ok, not permanent deformation caused.

[@scottbaeder37]

Best line ever..."we don't do these things because they are easy....We do them because we THOUGHT it would be easy" LOVE IT!

[@infidelmat]

Needs to be a Tshirt

[@Izelikestea]

a true engineers lament. i legit snorted

[@Speed001]

​@infidelmat great, now some bot is going to actually do that... those websites that steal content and sell it on shirts.

[@floyd1677]

You would need 11 links for the 180° because it’s the pivot point that gives you that 18° of movement, not the link itself. 10 links only give you 9 pivots so the tolerance was spot on.

[@aaronsalmon270]

Beat me to it.

[@link7417]

Its silly really how easy mistakes like that happen but we all have those moments ❤

[@regularfryt]

This is one of the two hard problems in programming: caching, naming things, and off-by-one errors.

[@GeorgeSanger]

An example of the fence post error, I believe

[@link7417]

@@regularfryt i think you had a off by one error there x3 just poking though as I fully agree whit that list

[@otm646]

This technique is used in industrial belt conveyors to distribute the wear on either side before you get into the cording.

[@bow-tiedengineer4453]

Actual uses for a mobius track: -If you want a machine to stamp a repeating pattern into concrete, you could make it half the size with a mobius track. -It will increase how long rubber grip pads will last, because they are only contacting the ground half as often. -You could use it for a belt in an airport, again to increase the uptime before you have to replace the rubber gripping surface. -You could use it to tip material off the side of a belt in a factory. -If you put in two twists instead of one, you could have a belt with a different surface texture for only part of it's run. Not sure why you'd need that, but it probably has a use case somewhere. I'm running out of ideas here, reply if you have a good one that nobody else has suggested!

[@Hugh7777]

You'll have to have twice as many grip pads, or if flat, it will become thinner just as fast.

[@ShakesB13r]

Its not usefull on its own, but in theory you could use the bend to give the chains a 3D path enabling either: A tank that has only one track (and can only drive straight) or tracks that flip to the side on the top side, leaving more room for armor or the important Parts of the tank on the side.

[@luckytrece4985]

If you put a pair number of twists it will not be a mobius strip, it will have two parts like an untwisted strip

[@robonator2945]

couldn't it also double the life of a something like a belt-sander? Obviously it'd still be using the same amount of material, but it'd only need to be replaced half as often.

[@bow-tiedengineer4453]

Probably not a great idea, because then you'd wear the idler wheels faster, and those are way more expensive than the belts.@@robonator2945

[@Gunbudder]

as others in the comments have stated, it would wear both sides of the track evenly. if you put grousers on both sides (single side?) of the track, all of the grousers would wear at the same rate and the entire track would last twice as long compared to a normal two sided loop of track (that only runs on the outside).

[@UltravioletNomad]

I know that works for surface wear, but I question how this affects the joints between chain links since there's so much wiggle room I imagine those joins might be weaker and more susceptible to vibrations.

[@jurajvariny6034]

@@UltravioletNomad perhaps make the links not be joints but compliant?

[@scilens1049]

think McFly... picking up mud and stones, and deliberately twisting the tracks to put all that into cogs and wheels, the wear and tear of the joints... this must be the single most stupid idea there ever was considering all tracked vehicles EVER.

[@azrielfriedman3595]

@@scilens1049 actually making one entirely out of peanut butter is a worse idea

[@scilens1049]

@@azrielfriedman3595 dont give him content-ideas :D

[@k_the_v]

James!! Ive got an excellent suggestion for a possible use of the mobius strip treads: cleaning! with mobius treads you could clean debris regularly from both sides, ensuring that they cant get bogged down! Think about it, treads can now go through mud or sand or rocks. One brush per tread means that every two rotations both sides get cleaned (thinking like a bristle brush). Or for overkill, a brush on each corner would constantly clean both sides but the brushes only need be on one side. Obviously this isnt an issue for huge tanks, but for small ones it might really benefit. What do you think?

[@k_the_v]

16 likes already? Apparently my idea isnt a terrible one, Hopefully James sees my reply...

[@Hugh7777]

@@k_the_v The, um, flipside of that is that both "sides" pick up mud etc. Think about it, treads have been going through mud or sand or rocks through two world wars.

[@k_the_v]

@Hugh7777 yes, full size tanks can handle just about everything. However, we're talking 1/4 or smaller treads, so rocks and sand are a far bigger problem.

[@98009200]

One advantage: you could put a larger diameter turret on the tanks. Because the tracks go vertical and create more space in the center for the turret

[@shred1894]

It would make the tank taller which would be a detriment to it's overall silhouette, which would in turn decrease it's survivability in combat. Not to mention the decrease in reliability that comes with having more than one axis of articulation between each link of the track.

[@hamjudo]

The treads could cover the bottom of the tank with no gap, while still allowing a turret on top. The tank wouldn't get stuck on top of a boulder in the middle of the road.

[@wolfganghorn7492]

@@shred1894 but you could sink a wider turret further into the tank, thus decreasing the silhuette, additionally the vertical portion of the track could act as a onetime use spaced sidearmour.

[@ESPkenner48]

And tracks could act as a side armor, althoug Im not sure if it would be a fail or a feature

[@shred1894]

@@wolfganghorn7492 First, you will end up with clearance issues for the barrel of the main gun by doing that. Second, using the track as armor is a bad idea because the moment it takes a hit you can't move anymore, which opens you up for follow-up hits.

[@77gravity]

1:50 10 links is only 9 joints, each joint twists 18 degrees, so you would need 11 links (10 joints) for 180 degrees.

[@nidhu595]

yes, however each one has one link so shouldn't it be 180 anyways?

[@77gravity]

@@nidhu595 Consider just 2 links, with a single joint, gives 18 degrees. The first link provides zero degrees, only subsequent links provide angles.

[@nidhu595]

@@77gravitythat makes sense, but what about four links connected in a square, then there are four connections and therefore 72 degrees of movement, since the track is connected to itself, we make up for the "missing" link

[@ChrisBLong]

A classic Obi-Wan error.

[@anthonymadorsky1551]

Correct. But the last and first link also joint, giving the total of 10 joints.

[@jamesbruton]

I'm thinking about using the twist in the track to make the next Bendy Tank! Look out for that some time.

[@darth_dan8886]

I wonder if there's any value in trying for a tank that contacts the ground _with_ the bend itself. A really narrow track with full drive benefits of a wide one?.. But probably would have lots of sideways forces.

[@matteomascaropennacchi2220]

Dear james, Please read my comments: I love this Tank wheel and I love yu magnificent Ideas, I love this tank too and its genius❤

[@man-great]

May be Bentley tank?

[@SoaringMoon]

10 Links only have 9 connection points. That's why 10 links didn't go 180 degrees.

[@dragonslayerslayerdragon5077]

I was hoping you'd adjust the pitch and yaw of the drive motors, opposingly so the twists went around them, ridding us of that conventional flat track. Great work btw.

[@Ernzt8]

I don't think there is a practical use for this, but the idea is very original. Great video again!

[@rbhe357]

"We don't do things because they're easy...we do them because we THOUGHT they'd be easy" I'm stealing that!

[@Pone1s]

The ideal turning position could be software controled: Only leave 1/3 of the mobius total length as the slippy part (just enough for one contact surface length to be full slippery if in the right position) When turning, software calcultes the exact slippy part of the inner turn circle to be inside and provides torque only to the outside. "Tank turn" unfeasible though.

[@Nevir202]

Could be done, but you'd then need stepper motor so the controller would know where the tracks are, and to calibrate regularly incase the motors lost any steps, or the tracks slipped on their sprockets. But I think you've misunderstood the issue. At 12:02 he points out that in the situation where one side is slippy and the other grippy, it CAN'T turn because the grippy part just drags the whole thing forward. SO what you'd actually need to do, is make sure that if you give it a turn command, it only tries to turn when both tracks are in the same phase.

[@jasonp7091]

If you were able to switch between the Mobius strip version and the circular version, then you could easily flip from sticky threads to smooth treads as needed. Just stay in circle treads all the time, use the Mobius pattern to switch to the other side, and then go back to circle treads. Great way to give you two options for driving around

[@davydatwood3158]

When I saw the thumbnail my first thought was "why would you want to do that?" Fortunately, you answered my question right at the beginning. :) Also, pedantry time: a "bogie" is an assembly of two or four wheels that is independently suspended or articulated. That is, the wheels are (usually) fixed in place, but the assembly is suspended or articulated independent of the rest of the vehicle. With your design, the wheels are just fixed to the frame, so there's no bogie involved. Which means they're not "bogie wheels," they're just road wheels.

[@vidareggum6118]

1:50 If the difference between two links is 18 degrees you have to have 11 links to get 18 degrees 10 times. It’s not because of tolerance, which you seem to have gotten spot on right away. I really liked this video, well done!😄

[@makebreakrepeat]

Sometimes ya just have to build something because it sounds cool. Great work!

[@ZwilnikSF]

What might be an interesting use (although a bit of an engineering challenge) is to make the twist switchable. So In normal use, you'd have non twisted tracks with either the smooth or grippy side in use. Then when you need to change grip, one of the track joins would twist on each track and allow both tracks to do one loop and effectively change their surface over. It wouldn't be a Mobius strip then as such, but the twist capability of the links would allow this 'flip sides' option.

[@Stereomoo]

Maybe make it a single link that's split, so it can spin 180 and then lock back together, rather than make one of the joins even more complicated.

[@ZwilnikSF]

@@Stereomoo Yup that could work. What I'm thinking is with the 18 degrees of spin rotation in each of the links, you could effectively flip a join around somewhere so the following links rotate around by the time they get to the front sprocket wheel.

[@Stereomoo]

@@ZwilnikSFif you had a little knob sticking off the ends of one of the links, you could have a slot next to it on the body that either has the knob continue straight along (no change) or diverts it to flip it the other way. then you just move the slots while it's on the bottom part of the track, and whichever one's available back at the top it'll follow. Then have a free 180 pivot between that link and the one "ahead" of it. I guess really you'd need 3 paths, continue straight, then 180 clockwise and 180 counterclockwise. Though possibly it would untwist on its own if you let it. (or springload the loose link to encourage that)

[@darreno9874]

If I remember correctly if you cut your mobius strip again you get 2 interlinked twisted loops. Love the idea for the tank. Keep up the great work. God bless

[@mkesenheimer]

No, this is the case if you cut a doubly twisted loop in half.

[@darreno9874]

@@mkesenheimer I'm sorry that is not quite right, make a mobius band cut it in half and then in half again along the strip and it creates 2 double twist mobius bands intertwined. The first cut makes a double twist mobius band the second makes what I've described above. I've just done it to check, give it a try 😁

[@mkesenheimer]

@@darreno9874 Ah, I misread your first sentence. I tried it out. You are right, if you cut the möbius loop again after cutting it once, you get two interlinked twisted loops. However, my statement is also correct. If you cut a doubly twisted loop, you get two interlinked loops.

[@RasaCartaMagna]

I have a childlike grin on my face watching this. I love you for doing this. Awesome.

[@Grunttamer]

Thinking about this being used in an armored vehicle made me realize this would be horrible for going through the mud. Instead of most of the mud being blocked by the track, all the mud gets forced between the track and the drivetrain because the track now only has 1 side instead of 1 "clean" and 1 "dirty.

[@conorbrady1839]

It would be a good tank for shedding muck and debris from the treads. Good for preventing jams and wear

[@jurajvariny6034]

idk, the debris would fall back to the bottom tread..perhaps having air compressor to clean up instead?

[@jasonyesmarc309]

​@@jurajvariny6034or a rectangular surface halfway down to bounce debris outward like rain on a slanted roof. That way you don't need to run a compressor.

[@Archin-dn4bp]

someday this tank will go to another dimension

[@vonspeedwagon1466]

“We don’t do these things because it’s easy, we do these things because we thought it would be easy” As a programmer who has tried to write things to do a very simple task which ends up being a lot more complicated than just doing the original task, I have never heard a more true statement.

[@mathmetool]

Lawn mower tank? There may already be one in your videos, I haven’t looked. Great content James

[@Madpegasusmax]

Nice video as always :D . As an idea for a future video : Tracks /wheels with convertible (in and out) rubber pikes or plots to enhance traction at a flick of a button . To do it , each blade as 2 plots with outside rubber end , and they're normally retracted by the use of elastics or springs , and at a flick of a switch , a slide plate mechanism push these plots out of the track on the ground side to enhanced traction .

[@TomaszWiszkowski]

With 10 pieces you only get 9 joints, so you need 11 pieces for 180 degrees I think. What an inspiring, curious video! Thank you!!!

[@KeeBaud]

I wonder if the tank can take advantage of the articulation of the treads to better deal with uneven terrain.

[@Mark.Ritchie]

I love how when you commit on a project, you commit fully. You cover a print bed with a whole tread piece.

[@ThreeGuysOneBucket]

13 minute video, 4 sponsors. Wew lad. Pushing it.

[@Spaventacorvi]

1:41 No, there is no tolerance error. You calculated it perfectly.

[@redwaller1]

I kind of want to see a mechanism that can deploy extra grip on tank treads with the push of a button. Maybe it can rotate a cam that pushes down on a spring loaded grip in the tread as it runs underneath?

[@kellyheld66]

To reduce vibration, move drive sprockets(any sprockets really) away from the ground. Add grooves to track segments and corresponding lips to the rollers to keep the tracks aligned on the ground.

[@marknahabedian1803]

A consequence of moebeous threads is that if the threads pick up any grit or gunk from the ground it will be carried to the sprockets after the twist.

[@JinKee]

This is glorious! It doubles the life of your track pads

[@FictionHubZA]

It's Mobin time.

[@MaceJuanDu]

@8:01 extremely glad you made the tracks symetric 😂

[@Tijl96]

The advantages I can think of is that you basically have double the surface area to wear out, so the lifetimes of your tracks are extended quite a bit. It's not a lot of flashy functionality that you gain with it but cost-wise a mobius strip might have a big impact. The fact that the tracks can pivot in an extra dimension might also make your tank able to deal with even more uneven terrain than a normal track can. for example if they can twist when in contact with the ground (might have to redesign your bogey wheels for that) they might make more contact with surfaces that are tilted differently perpendicular to your track.

[@marcm.9176]

This reminds me of screw tanks. Might be interesting to try to make a version that can drive on the twist without going flat (don't know how it would work though).

[@Alluvian567]

@2:02 LOVE it, lol. "We don't do these things because they are easy, we do them because we THOUGHT they would be easy."

[@Alluvian567]

Wish you could do clips less than 5 seconds, that one is a clip I would share, but really needs to be 3 or 4 seconds long.

[@Sunnywastakentoo]

The missing 18 degrees seems to be from their only being 9 linkages in 10 track segments.

[@chrisprobert6]

In any practical application, it's gonna wear out real quick 😊

[@darth_dan8886]

> Makes tanks with threads that only have one side > Covers only one "side" of these tracks with grips Absolute legend

[@cho4d]

just when you think he can't make anything more practical and utilitarian he comes out with another banger like this!

[@gcl2783]

This was an excellent motivation for a build. It was highly effective at being entertaining.

[@Because-Linux]

When I saw the thumbnail, I said to myself, "It's cursed. I love it."

[@Mr-CJX]

Suggestion: rather than using Mobius track with uncontrollable switch between rubber and slick sides, make a rigid (standard) track with rotating central part within each segment with one rubbery side and one not. I mean, that each segment may have H shape, where vertical lines are the axis, that connects it to other segments, and horizontal central axis allows perpendicular rotation of a flat part of the segment with a pad on one side. So the track will look like this: HHHHHHHH. Then you give the track no freedom of perpendicular rotation, except in the upper part of its trajectory, where you put a mechanism to overturn pads controllably, when needed.

[@MatchaMakesThings]

Great IDEA!

[@boss_bonard7573]

cool idea!

[@drsira7248]

I think these tracks have a weirdly cool application: Fantasy/SciFi Tank! Because of the twist the tracks can provide vertical cover for the main tank turret etc. And in a world with better/more optimized materials, using the already existing and nessesary tracks to provide decent cover with no/minimal additional weight just seems perfectly viable. I could defenetly see this kind of tracks in worlds like Warhammer 40k, Halo or similar titels. In those world it would just be a logical solution to a obvious problems: how to give a tank more armor without adding new stuff? -> twist the tracks so they face outwards and cover the tracks width in the most crucial area.

[@LoneStarr1979]

but.... aren't the tracks one of the most vulnerable parts of a tank?! Also one of the parts, you definately do not want to lose in a combat. On the other hand .. Warhammer 40K and the like do not tend to care too much about reality issues ;-)

[@drsira7248]

@@LoneStarr1979 YES! For real life its a pretty damn stupid idea, but for high tech fantasy worlds it makes perfect sense.

[@FreviriousQuigby]

"we don't do these things because they're easy. we do them because we thought they'd be easy" i felt that in my soul

[@mitchellbroderick5097]

Mate didnt know you could possibly have so many sponsors in one video.

[@stoatystoat174]

"We don't do these things cuz they're easy though. We do them cuz we thought they'd be easy." Inspiring words 😂

[@mike-stpr]

Было бы, конечно, интересней, если бы он по желанию мог перевернуть гусеницу -- т.е. чтобы она не всё время была лентой Мёбиуса, а только когда это нужно (чтобы перевернуться обратной стороной) :-) Огромная благодарность Вам за эти изделия и ролики! Вы замечательный мастер! СПАСИБО!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@badsamaritan8223]

I think the issues this would create outweigh any possible benefit. At least for outdoor use. You're gonna be running the dirty side of the track over your sprockets all the time, so you're either gonna get it all jammed up with mud and rocks and crap, or worse, the rocks will derail it. Could be useful in a closed environment, where surface wear is greater than tension, torsion or shear forces, giving you double the surface area by using both sides of the belt.

[@yossiyaari3760]

Just interesting to see a comparison of the same parts running with a flat track.

[@heinroelofse6062]

"We don't do things because they are easy, we do them because we thought they would be easy" 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@conradude]

Your next project should be a robotic lawnmower. Seems like you need one and would be kickass to see the build

[@FluffyPrincess888]

2:02 " We don't do things because they're easy we do things because we thought they were easy." as someone who's learning coding i relate to this so hard

[@ArcAiN6]

Soooo... Just an observation... Instead of reprinting parts to deal with tolerances, and tensions issues, instead, design your parts with slots. This will allow you to adjust the tension without having to re-print the part again. Also, for the belt tension, again, use slots, but this time instead of completely tightening down the sprocket assembly mounting plates, put a backer on the frame, and use a set of springs to push against the sprocket assembly, this will give you dynamic tension for when going slow, or fast. You can also reduce the amount of "bumping" you're seeing by using sprockets with proper angled teeth. square teeth have no angular contact point to "ride" on, this will cause them to "bump" into position, knock on the flat contact planes, and bump back out. using teeth with an angled contact point will allow the contact point to continuously be in contact witht he mating surface, reducing friction, wear, and providing a smoother continuous power transfer from sprocket to tread.

[@MadameMinty]

The way to go with Möbius tracks is to make them toggleable. A single link would be capable of twisting, creating a Möbius track. Then the tank should travel so the external track surface is exchanged with the internal one, before untwisting the link to undo the Möbius. Effectively providing two different types of treads. Real tanks already use e.g. rubber and all-metal tracks depending on the scenario, but Möbius tracks would be toggleable on demand, without stopping, the need for manual installation, tools, or extra parts. It may be possible to develop such tracks for some existing vehicles, but a futuristic tank could even switch automatically depending on the terrain it sees ahead on the trajectory chosen by the commander, or sustained damage: the problems you've noticed when turning with mixed tracks could maybe be used to undo another problem.

[@memejeff]

That's a very cool tank build. Very nice.

[@michaelwagner8856]

So when James was testing the 10 track segments and they didn't quite make it to 180 it wasn't a tolerance issue, he needed one more segment. The interface between two segments can rotate 18 degrees and while there were 10 segments there were only 9 connections each connection with an 18 degree rotation for 162 degrees. Ten connection which would require 11 segments would have gotten you to the full 180.

[@chettiarsirusraj9501]

One benefit of the Mobius track/tracks is that they can keep the wheels and sprokets driving them quite clean and decrease the amount of dirt and debre get accumulated on them while also increasing it's track life with it's full track wheel and sproket assembly increasing it's work life and decreasing it's maintenance frequency. Do a test of driving this tracks in mud and dirt and see how clean the tracks and track assembly stay after each run compared to a regular single side track just in comparison no need to print a single side track you can adjust this one to become a single side track for testing the two types of track assembly.

[@yngndrw.]

This track design might work quite well in sticky mud - The twist will allow the mud to fall off.

[@AJ-Palermo]

I asked ChatGPT about the advantages of a Mobius Strip tank track, and it didn't have many answers, but one thing it would help with is shedding debris (rocks, clumps of mud, etc) when the track twists. This, of course, would be more useful for a much larger tank than for a small RC one

[@martin_mue]

Sometimes it seems this channel is on a mission to explain to Matthias Wandel how useful 3D printing can be. 😀

[@arifinaja963]

I wonder if people know this name

[@notsonominal]

_"We don't do these things because they're easy though, we do them because we thought'd they'd be easy"_ needs to be on a t-shirt!

[@scotshabalam2432]

a twisted upper tread causes more friction which is amplified as the tank's scale increases closer to real world proportions and it may still work but it will also cause more stress on the treads. You'll also need to re-engineer the rollers to handle dirt and debris being carried into the inside of the tread.

[@bubblesculptor]

We're gonna need these mobiius tanks to fight in the upcoming hyperdimensional wars

[@lilyrooney]

you should 3d print a custom slope-rig. maybe something on a screw so that you can finely adjust the slope while doing a friction test. this would be cool because you could find the exact limit for friction, and itd be a bit more repeatable than just finding a nearby object to prop it up to some random height. and mabye you could have a tweakable first step height, so you can figure out what the largest step things can go up.

[@scottwatschke4192]

I think that is brilliant engineering.

[@liambohl]

Interesting! With the two different tread surfaces, you can *eventually* execute a turn, and you can *eventually* climb up a smooth incline. That's a pretty good compromise in my book!

[@CmdrMartinThompson]

"Hw didnt know how that would be usefull and i dont know either, so lets build it anyways" embodies the true spirit of an engineer 😁

[@TommyBee456]

Only potential benefit I can think of is how it can spread the wear of the tracks evenly on "both sides"(LOL), theoretically doubling the lifespan of the tracks. Otherwise is a cool showpiece for conventions and stuff haha.

[@kboltiz]

That's a smooth way to get both sides of your conveyor belts dirty.

[@JCUDOS]

Impressive build as usual!

[@lucasrezende7214]

It's an interesting idea because you basically get twice as much thread in your tracks, but the added complecity isn't worth the hassle.

[@conorbrady1839]

James! Maybe a quick clip in your next video. How well does it run upside down??? Would the tapering contact patch and tilt backwards help it with mounting taller objects without extra grip pads?

[@nobbari1]

every time this guy says "track" it reminds me of duck quacking and i cant unheard it anymore

[@SumGuyLovesVideos]

would be interesting to have a double twist such that along the ground you have smooth treads, then a twist to a grippy tread that could be lowered as needed, or raised when turning, then twist back to smooth again at the other end of the tank. wouldn't be a mobius then, but still a twisted tread tank

[@asadfarooqi8431]

halfway through a 14 minute video and already 3 sponsors. wow. never coming back to this channel.

[@aeonturnip2]

Equal wear on both sides, but greater potential to get muck onto the sprockets? The flex between sprockets will probably also have pros and cons. Interesting stuff!

[@kylemasson9324]

I like how people are commenting that he's not practical... it isn't, it's cool looking

[@DSlyde]

The single track reminds me of the hyanide - it was like a motorcycle concept with a single track and it'd bend to turn. I always wanted to see someone build a real one.

[@robambrose4199]

I think the Germans already had those in ww2.

[@DSlyde]

@@robambrose4199 they had the kettenkrad, but it's not the same thing

[@robambrose4199]

@@DSlyde There's definitely something historic out there that's already been built though, as I'm sure I've seen someone on KZbin riding it around. If you Google: "A tracked motorcycle from 1939" it brings up a photo of something similar, but I think the one I remember seeing might have been military.

[@DSlyde]

@@robambrose4199 I think you're thinking of the Lehaitre but it didn't bend. How it actually worked is super unclear but there's an old article on it that said it was the "sideways motion of the drive belt"

[@ToninFightsEntropy]

Interesting idea for a harvester if you think about it. Because what was outside becomes inside, it could be made of scoopy cutters and drop off stuff in to a wide chute out of the middle of the wheelbase to the centre of the vehicle when the tracks twist after bringing it up.. might need more action on cutting since track segments stay still when down... anything not cut gets squished.. maybe it has a purpose though.

[@LostLargeCats]

"We don't do these things because they are easy... We do them because we thought they would be easy." very nice. XD

[@DatsunRacingTeam]

It would be interesting to see a special link in the track that can spin 180 degrees, and a system that can switch it's orientation to add the Mobius effect for a single loop of the tracks, and remove the twist after that loop. This would switch which face of the tracks is used on demand, meaning you could engage or disengage the extra traction on demand rather then it switching on its own each rotation

[@FrogsAreGods]

there are atleast 2 things you could use this for maybe more but atleast 2 i hope in the future people use this to creat something insane

[@ravensquote7206]

The advantage of mobius tracks I imagine would be more of a long term sort of thing, namely wear & tear. Instead of just wearing down one side of the track plates and getting no use out of the other, mobius tracks make use of both sides of each track plate alternately and can thus lengthen the working life of its tracks by around double.

[@ZeroOneInfinity]

Just a note, james bruntons socks are klein bottles with gripper dots on one face.

[@jblen]

This is way larger than I expected, I thought it would be like RC car size, but this is large enough a child could ride in it

[@TheCuriosity8]

An interesting use would be for sand traction, with the twist on the bottom it would dig into the sand to go where it otherwise couldn't. With a flip mechanism it could then go to flat track mode for hard surfaces

[@bunnylove273]

Hey bud what a interesting design challenge, nicely executed 🎉

[@EpicATrain]

I don't know how to explain my idea but why not just have smooth tracks, like you do now, with rubber pads that are flush (in line with the flat smooth side) and have a user controlled piston wheel that will push out on the rubber pads near the front and back of the tank when you need them?

[@azyfloof]

The fact ten pieces of track don't quite make the 180° twist, but 11 do, is down to the classic off-by-one or "fence post" error :D You need to count the joints between the track pieces, not the track pieces themselves

[@CDRaff]

2:03 I think "We didn't do these things because they are easy, but because we thought they would be easy." might be my new shop slogan.

[@camerondrew9402]

Would like to see it driving on the twist side. Surprised you didn't flip her over!!

[@lady_draguliana784]

LOL! JFK voice "We choose to do this, NOT because it is easy! But because we THOUGHT it would be easy!"

[@Whatdyoumean]

You know I clicked this video because I thought someone had finally figured out the muddy/icy tread problem which you did but I guess you didn't realize it haha. To clarify sticky mud or ice clogs up treads until they have no scoop action left on the slick surface(ice on ice mud on mud). When you invert the track you could place a diverter to eject the mud out the side. maybe even a wheel to increase the bend angle and fling it off. Also too much ice inside can de track your treads so you have to build around that, making it holy or add a scrapper.