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The size of wheels and where they are positioned on the axle is another important consideration when designing and building your robot. The speed and distance your robot travels will depend on both of these factors. A larger wheel will allow your robot to move further with each turn of the motor. It can then travel greater distances in a shorter time then it would with a smaller wheel. Positioning the wheels further away from the main body of your robot will increase the radius of the turning circle. This means your robot will take longer to turn and it will need more space to manoeuvre. This could be a problem if you robot is limited to confined spaces.
Positioning the wheels closer to the main body will decrease the radius of the turning circle. This will produce an increased rate of rotation so the robot will be capable of quick turns and sharper movement. Notice how robot moves when using smaller wheels react changing the wheel sizes and positioning to see how the robots movement is affected. Select a wheel and then use the slider to vary its position on the axel.
Now you have completed Lesson 5
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