I regret inventing Tank Boots

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I built motorized tracked boots...on purpose...are they worth it? Could the tracks be better used some other way? Does anyone even read this part anymore?
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Old tank footage from Prelinger Archive

[@JoelCreates]

Your browser is holding you back. Level up with Opera here: opr.as/Opera-browser-JoelCreates

[@imnothere394]

Nice vid

[@deejaygaming7389]

You know opera is possible malware right? The company that owns it is really suspicious.

[@limemason]

@@deejaygaming7389 No, Opera is not malware XD

[@thedotgiver2820]

.

[@lio1234234]

The radio controlled mini tank idea is cool, but it needs to be faster (and heavier for the low CoM given the higher speed)

[@storbytronics]

Next step: Make tank gloves and a turret backpack to go with them and become one with the tanks

[@senfdame528]

I support this message

[@KainaX122]

Next step: Make tank waifus a reality

[@jeremysmith7176]

@@KainaX122 there's already an anime about anime girls in tanks

[@Avetho]

@@jeremysmith7176 Its more like Strike Witches, with their Ground Witches, but with tracks instead of mech legs

[@KainaX122]

@@jeremysmith7176 yeah but now make them REAL

[@Henry-by8en]

Hey, a figure skater and rollerblader here. The balance problem can probably be dealt with by changing your stance. You should have much better balance by putting 1 foot forward and one foot back. That will give you a much longer base forwards and backwards and allow you to deal with the hill and obstacles much better, as well as stop you tipping over when you stop

[@SlitexGaming]

I was thinking that the whole time lol. he rode them like it was a hoverboard.

[@funkpunkdave220]

also coming from a skater, the problem is that the boots are so high, therefore blocking your shin from going forwand and into your knees. This way the balance point of your body could be more in front, and this stops you from falling backwards. i would love to see an improved version!

[@Stay_away_from_my_swamp_water]

Not a skater (anymore) but an engineer (not yet and a software engineer at that) and I can say that he's right, and this is a skill issue.

[@GrustnyyDrug]

He is a intelligent man, but not a athletic one.

[@jado3069]

Nobody goes straight up a mountain with ski boots like this. Thats why old ski bindings have a release function in the back + of course you are using sticks.

[@Wolfe_Blue]

I’m impressed with how many ideas you have come up with and that you can actually build it.

[@JoelCreates]

Thank you :)

[@danese1636]

@@JoelCreates I'm impressed you're not dead

[@starshot5172]

​@@JoelCreates Yeah, at the level of determination you build them with, there are few to no other people who who match your level. Keep going!

[@deejaygaming7389]

Now that’s how you grab someone’s attention with just a title. Love the content.

[@egg5802]

It’s also not clickbait, this really is one of the best examples of titling

[@JoelCreates]

Thank you!

[@SuicideNeil]

You've got the right idea, they're just too short- make them longer like skis and drop your feet down lower by using smaller 'road wheels'.

[@EJG8894]

I had the same thought- make them longer and have smaller wheels under your feet with idlers to guide the upper track under your feet. Lower center of gravity and longer stance. These things look like fun with some tweaking

[@PeterSripol]

Bootlickers: 👁️👄👁️ I’ll take your entire stock

[@JoelCreates]

Just make sure the battery is disconnected first

[@storbytronics]

@@JoelCreates where's the fun in that?

[@hyperteleXii]

Tonguetreading

[@Tachikoma0333]

I do, in fact, read these lol. Also maybe take a page out of a halftracks book and mount two wheels in front that you either swivel with your feet, like a bike handle bar for your feet, or freely rotate. These would provide some much needed stability and keep the military theme. Good luck man!

[@limemason]

Bro just revolutionized travel, he's just being modest

[@AntoLeNice]

I would add a wheelie bar at the back and footrests further in the front, and probably incline the back of the seat a bit.

[@Erik-wf7wb]

ya, maybe front and back wheelie bars, with nice big wheels/rollers

[@NeedWantBuy]

Great video! If you made 2 mini tanks and a bigger frame to connect them, you can have a giant longboard tank!

[@ThatTieDyeGuy]

Longer Tracks. If you quadruple the length of the tracks it will stablize them. Then bring in bindings down even with the center line. Final idea would be to replace the ridged plastic wheels with small pneumatic wheel barrow/cart tires. Should be more like walking in mud. Use an arduino to control the tire pressure based on terrain type. Thank again, loved the episode.

[@Wico90YT]

Tank Boots + Gravity jetpack is great. Also track chairs are perfect

[@jg-7780]

I believe the drill you used has a special feature which brakes the drivetrain when the trigger is released. You might rather use one which doesn't have this feature, so that the motor winds down more gradually.

[@johnsherby9130]

The fact that I never really realized those $40 drills are a crazy good deal is kinda funny. Now I’m wondering what else I could power with them. You could make some insane power wheels upgrades for like $100

[@arcotkk]

There is potential with this to be great. I'd say the biggest way to improve these would be to make them shorter but longer, like skis. Using smaller wheels and a longer platform would have greater stability and less risk.

[@justinbremer2281]

I love how "shorter but longer" makes no sense but actually totally does

[@socialmediumspace]

I really appreciate the way you are always able to push your projects right up to, but not over, the line of safety. As much as I enjoy learning about engineering through your projects I enjoy learning about your process even more

[@Magnetic999]

Great invention, Joe! I invented a similar silly thing with the same snowblower track. A motorized Swiss sled. Instead of a power drill I'm using a bicycle hub motor. If you are in Switzerland, feel free to try it out :)

[@JoelCreates]

Sounds like a good time!

[@StuffandThings_]

That comment about offroad skis, along with a comment in the comments section about attaching ski poles to the controller handles got me thinking... What if you adapted this concept into actual powered offroad skis? Make the treads much, much longer and flatter, a bit skinnier, and well just generally ski shaped. Attach the controllers to ski poles, and keep the ski boot system. Boom, now you've got skis that can go on a lot of surfaces that normal skis can't, and they'd also have their own power so cross country might actually be fun for once.

[@dfgaJK]

Top tier craftmenship! Make an RC mower! but one that can mow anything at full movement speed!

[@greyzeel6554]

I have some ideas. 1-adding some back wheels that are slightly above the groind on the back will help catch you when falling 2- making a longer front to rest your legs on seems like a good idea for comfort Great video though!

[@ProtesttheAntagonist]

Un-motorized tank boots have been around for a while! Some crazies back in 80s decided they wanted to ski, but there wasn't any snow. So they made tracked skis for usage on grassy hills. Definitely not great to use, but better than not ski-ing I guess.

[@Reversed82]

i think if you built this based on rctestflight's snowcat design it might work better, implying the tracks and frame can somehow take the weight. the snowcat looks a bit slimmer and you can adjust the tracks to be wider to have a lower center of gravity and a wider base on each boot

[@michaelfloodine]

I think to get the kind of use you seem to be looking for out of tank boots they'd have to be longer tracks, like short ski's rather than everything directly under you like skates.

[@eduardostapenko6808]

you made a tracks platform, now maybe try doing robotick tank platform? some drone to transport maybe supplies, or wounded people at lockal airsoft field

[@zdog90210]

🎵 The shin bone is connected to the ... ski boot 🎵 the ski boot's connected to the ... tank tracks 🎵 and that's how we move around 👐👐

[@TurtleMasterFlex]

At the start of the video right away I could see the main issue is that your center of gravity is too high, I have an idea that would solve that and still be boots. You'd have to source new tracks.. but two tracks half the width, but on both sides of your boot. with a platform maybe level with the wheel bearings, or a little lower, like a real tank. I feel like this would give you much more of a Grounded feel.

[@jamesrivas4572]

All new all-terrain roller skates BABYYYYYYYYYYY And almost we got it working but hey at least we go a chair tank or butt tank or mini tank

[@brentoncousins979]

Great video Joel! This invention is ahead of its time. I would LOVE to see foot pegs and peddles for tank steering + throttle! If you want try more with the boots, maybe find treads on a smaller wheel base. You wouldn't go as fast but the surface contact would be identical.

[@RealAndySkibba]

You should send these to Eddy Burback and he can compare to the moonwalk shoes he didn't like.

[@Tyranzor64]

Standard tank treads can articulate up and down for getting over rough terrain. Maybe a V2 with some articulating joints and longer tread to make bumps easier to handle?

[@Weisz]

“Like a hesitant monkey at a computer” joel you kill me 😂 Sick video dude!

[@jlco]

I think the tank chair might benefit from having the controls affixed to the sides, at about the position you were already holding them, so you can use them to hang onto the chair.

[@therealtwo2dee]

i feel like the only way they could work as boots is: wider tracks and wheels, the front wheel being the drive wheel and possibly a longer frame with a middle suspension bogie to not only keep the track tight against the ground, but also to possibly help get over things, but then again im not all to good with physics i just love tanks

[@jonathancook4022]

These will be perfect for use at my local ski club where a 10min walk across a feild is required before skiing! - I can go straight from ski tanks to skis with 100% compatability with my own ski boots. No change of footwear required!!! AWESOME!

[@KainaX122]

I think the best improvement you could make for the tank chair (patent pending) is if you could stretch your legs out. Extend out the front to include some foot rests on top of a large swivel caster

[@profusemoose1488]

Very good call on the safety call-off. I knew a guy who died instantly falling backwards on rollerblades and banging his head on the pavement. Also, honestly, scale it up, put a chair on it, replace the off-road wheelchair that some company made that was great but broke too easy and they never supported properly (iirc)

[@eslachance]

From riding EUCs, I'd say the number one issue here is your locked ankles. Not being able to actually lean forward to keep your center of balance correctly, that's a big issue. Considering I want to make a vehicle with similar features though, this is... actually a pretty useful video for me. I shall learn from your failures and learning experiences!

[@ratsmacker8113]

once the complete mini tank is done, make it modular to convert back into boots

[@BigRigCreates]

Uh oh, he put on the hat at the end. Wisconsin Winter Joel is coming.

[@Orion_5764]

8:13 "let's take these to the steepest hill in town" jump cuts to literally just a field with a 1% grade

[@reynoldskynaston9529]

You could mount the triggers to the sides of the “mini tank” to give a more stable feel to it and then you could also add a canon to the front

[@solarflare623]

What if you added stabilizer wheels to the front and back? I think the main thing causing you to fall over is the short wheelbase.

[@stainlesssteelfox1]

One way to fix the CoG issue would be to move the foot plates from the top to the insides, low down, so they're no higher than regular skates. Of course you'd need smaller wheels under or on the inside of your foot to support the unbalanced plate. But they could be simply free wheeling.

[@AleksaNoeksa]

That hill in Elver Park doesn't seem steep until you're lugging a sled back up to the top for the fifth time that day :D

[@JoelCreates]

Truth

[@NickCombs]

I mean, the next logical step is a tank sled/luge. You just need one more mini-tank and a gurney, basically.

[@AydenVr7]

you need a skeletal structure that goes from the base of the boots connected going up your legs and then wraps around to a small seat when you bend your knees the skeliton locks and becomes a seat to balance out your weight this plus kick stand wheels that shoot out backwards when you lean to far back. With this you can add more speed.

[@spthibault]

Trapazoid the wheels some, add a foot rest and (and arguably or) tip the chair back a bit to allow easier leg extension. For standing (or sitting) the use of a bracketed set of smaller wheels to the frame to allow some rocking would assist with a ridged double hinge (to allow bending) in the foward and aft sections would also help with stability.

[@GoldTegu]

The lack of knee pads on that trailer is concerning. Also keeping your knees bent (between 90° and 140°), feet separeated somewhere aorund the same distance your shoulders are, and keeping your dominant foot on front will really help to maintain your balance on bumpy roads. Source: Urban rollerblading basics (^:

[@Sopsy_Hallow]

from bad rollerskates to fun moving chair, what a journey

[@DendrummerMC]

Perhaps longer tank tracks could helpfor the boot design? Like their current length x2, bringing it closer to those very short skis. Though that might bring some other problems with it.

[@Audi_Sport_Quattro_S1_E2]

Try putting the tank seat on your lower legs and separate ones on your hands so you can crawl on your hands and feet/legs. You will have more traction, more stable since you got 4 contact points and lower center of mass

[@ryanlevis7532]

Maybe add two sets of tracks on each boot for balance purposes. Although the idea isn't bad. This would be good for SAR purposes. I could see this working.

[@SquishySenpai]

Full rebuild. Extend the track two inches on front and back. Use boots that will let your ankles flex back and forth. Then you can stagger your stance and have your feet more in front of, and behind your center of gravity.

[@gi70st]

footrest, wheelie bar, and mount the triggers to arm rests

[@Madnessnunky]

Mount the controls to the mini tank on short metal standoffs and that would give your body leverage over the rotation of the vehicle and stabilize your upper half a bit. An extension out the front with offroad caster wheel(s) and a tray for your legs would further stabilize it and move the center of gravity slightly forward to negate backwards rolls. It'd basically be a tracked truck like those old WW2 vehicles.

[@KrawllUnchained]

I think the idea was really cool and fun, i also think that by modifying the design of the tank treads you could make them easier to use and reduce the "tipping" that you were experiencing. There is definitely a way to optimize this to make it useable and practical but of course that would cost significant amounts of money and you'd have to make this your main project for a long time before coming out with a viable version.

[@GrumpyIan]

That second configuration where you sit on it reminds me of the Goliath tracked mine from WW2.

[@Tony-op6xf]

5:59 next episode make an electric unicycle with tracks.

[@janthran]

my thoughts at just about every step of the way are that you need to just put heavier wheels inside those tracks to ensure bigger surface area as well as lower the center of gravity. if that's not enough you can drop a couple weights in there too

[@zackmarkham4240]

A tip from an inline skater: don't keep your feet even with each other, stagger them. Keep the toe of one foot even with the arch of the other. It'll help a lot of the tipping forward and backward when starting or stopping. Also, bend your knees a bit more, trying to keep your knees over your toes.

[@Sjarken100]

YES! Please make it into something radio controlled awesomeness!

[@nosidenoside2458]

Maybe longer tracks or a cross country skiing stance

[@collectorguy3919]

Mount an over-sized inner tube around the tank-chair, and you have the first of a fleet of bumper-tank-chairs.

[@InspireToMake]

This is Awesome!

[@JoelCreates]

Glad you think so!

[@yutub561]

make them longer so theyre more stable. your center of gravity is too high in relation to the ground contact. if you cant make them longer, you could put them side by side like you did with the seat, then set the boot down near the ground in between the two tracks. problem is that you need 4 tracks now. maybe put one in front of the other on separate articulating arm to make them grip over uneven surfaces and solve the stability issue at the same time since its double the length

[@oolong2]

There's a reason why skis are long.... If you had two for each foot (front and back) and put the ski boot in the middle it would be so much better. The center of gravity would be lower since the boot platform can be put lower and you wouldn't fall backwards or forwards because of the extra leverage.

[@rowgler1]

That was pretty entertaining. What if instead of standing on top of the treads there was a shelf that connected the boots that could articulate that you stood on and you weren't strapped in. Like an all terrain tank skate board. That would give you a wider stance and a lower center of gravity and you could just step off if needed.

[@villafanmart]

'this is dumb, but its a great idea' tis a quote that got me though my teenage years XD

[@thelegend8570]

If you had 2 treads per foot you could mount them at the same height as your foot, that way you wouldn't be any taller when wearing them. Could help maybe, like tank heelies or something.

[@joshgrant6873]

These are so cool! Would it potentially solve the balance problem if you were to add a layer of more flexible materials like springs or a gimbal-like mechanism where your feet go so they wouldn’t be locked to staying parallel with the treads?

[@Vinnie_728]

I think this could work better with the treads mounted to the sides of the feet, maybe with four. that way you're way less likely to fall over

[@SpaghettiWaffle]

This dude just made the Manntreads irl

[@Dpedersen35]

Hey brother, first video I've ever seen of yours. The algorithm really knew me when it suggested this video. I cannot wait to see tank chair v2. Please keep making things. I can't wait to see you on the Safety Third Podcast in less than a year because that's your crowd for sure!

[@jaosnv2979]

they also make a ride on attachment for those hover boards would give you a place for your feet and a stable sitting platform

[@douglasrohman6191]

Skateboard configuration. Two off-road wheels in the front on skateboard trucks and the fixed track in the back.

[@stephentroyer3831]

I think you need 2 more built the same way, hitched into the front with footrests on either side and a swivel hinge between front and back. Put all 4 throttles through 1 controller, steer with your feet by articulating the quad-track mini tank.

[@aapur]

My only recommendation is to pick apart a second snow blower and make each boot 2 threads and twice as long. Gives you extra power with a second motor on each, and also extra forward/backward stability

[@davidmete5]

I saw someone mention a wheelie bar. Thumbs up to that. Can you lower your center of gravity more? Your boots were ON TOP of the treads, what if you were able to put them beside (or inside) the treads? Same for the chair, wider tread base, sink the seat, add some heel bars or stirrups?

[@AeroQC]

MORE MINI TANK! R/C would be a great idea; maybe add FPV, too? And you can't have a tank without a gun, put a NERF blaster on it. And then make a second one! Backyard mini tank battles!

[@Arkay315]

I think tank boots would work better if the crawler tracks were longer.

[@Ima_Tron]

I think the idea controller for Tank-Butt mode is just a nerf blaster with those big "grenade" rounds with the steering radio glued somewhere near the trigger or priming handle.

[@ayatokzorro]

you need a one way ratchet on those transmissions, so that instead of it just immediately stopping and hurling you forward, it coasts and glides to a stop

[@RobsNeighbor]

Love it Joel! Great Job!

[@weedjesus5587]

these are insane, just imagine if hese able to make them as long as actual skiis you genuinely could skii in any place or season

[@Dracklen248]

I love that you’re right by my home for these tests, I sled on that hill every year :D!

[@whatta7793]

You've got to expand on this some more.. bigger tracks, bigger motors, bigger battery. 1-2 tank gokart, or similar to a small kids side by side or small ATV

[@ColorlessQueen]

Tank treads on a wheel chair would go hard

[@TheKaptainKernow]

Move the seat back a bit, and put a pair of castors under yer arse, or a bit behind you. Alternatively, make 4 track units, and either build a little mini Hagglunds BV206, or strap one track to each limb. Become robo-dog-man-tank!

[@DigBipper188]

My recommendation; Get a dual VESC and a wireless remote kit - it should be more than capable of driving those brushless motors and you can also configure the power output. Alternatively you could get two small VESC 4.2's and run them in CANBUS mode to reduce the cost. Additionally, if you can lengthen the tracks on that thing it will make it a lot less inclined to want to tip, although depending on who you talk to that could remove some of the fun factor.

[@A_Productions]

9:47 YAY THE HAT

[@sparkmaticsparkmatic4899]

I think the tracks need to be maybe twice as long if not longer, I think it would help balance and help you crawl over things

[@mittensthefeared5401]

You're slowly on your way to becoming a human armored core, all you need are some energy rifles and an exoskeleton

[@WarpedPerception]

How to learn to Rollerblade .... Hahah

[@BeefinOut]

The guy who called it "off road skiing" has the right idea. If the boots were 3 times as long, flexible, and could get to like 20 mph, it would be insane fun

[@Rygoat]

Honestly I'm just waiting for the inevitable BudgetBots, Battlebots with a budget limit and run by all the youtubers.

[@cyborgbob1017]

I think the idea could still work, it just needs more powerful motors, a flex system that flexes the individual wheels to align more with shape of the boot and the terrain, and some basic PPE like a helmet

[@avist7]

i literally had a dream about boots with snowmobile tracks 10+ years ago and ive been thinking about how to make them for so long now. i thought of them as rollerskates for snow. i imagined them to be essentially in neutral until you apply power to them, kinda like a boosted board. i also thought of implementing balance controls like a hoverboard, but on two feet i dont think that would work. something like a wireless remote with a throttle and brake system might be the way to go imo. i think im gonna try to make the design ive been thinking about all this time now that ive seen someone else try it lol

[@ammunitions6452]

put 2 more of those on the front and have all the wiring for one side hook up to 1 controller and vise versa

[@dupre7416]

I didn't think I needed any more channels like this. I was wrong.