[Project THOUGHT] Two new joint types

[Toshiro]

These are two new joint designs which Yaichiro is working on in Project THOUGHT for the improvement of mecha.

https://wiki.stararmy.com/doku.php?id=kage:project_thought:frictionless_hybrid_joint

No, it's not Gundam's magnetic coating. To make a long story short, it manipulates the joints with electromagnets rather than mechanical movement to remove friction and improve response time to help better keep up with a Neko or Yamataian's digital mind. It can still switch seamlessly into a mechanical system using anchors when more strength is needed, or even back up the mechanical system with the magnets.

Upsides: Fast response time, high precision, seamless toggling between modes, flexible (high degree of movement)

Downsides: Steep learning curve, complex and more timely to assemble and calibrate. Generally takes time to field. Hard to add supplemental armor to due to high flexibility.



https://wiki.stararmy.com/doku.php?id=kage:project_thought:simplified_joint

This is a simplified version which is solely mechanical, but designed using the lessons learned from its higher performance sibling above.

Upsides: It can be used to train pilots, is more than sufficient response speed for normal "human" pilots, and is very quick to assemble and field.

Downsides: Not frictionless, Hard to add supplemental armor to due to high flexibility.

 

[Zack]

Can this rotate at all?

 

[Toshiro]

Yes, it can.

When in frictionless mode, the ball can rotate within the socket, though it will do its best to stay aligned for prompt switching to mechanical mode if possible.

In Mechanical mode, a system allows the shaft to rotate within the ball, completely independent of the socket. This is also the sole method used in the simplified joint.

When switching modes, the mechanical rotation of the shaft actually takes over and briefly compensates for when the Frictionless system has to align the ball anchors to the socket for anchoring in mechanical mode. This is done very swiftly, and is intended to be imperceptible.


It is a bit hard to describe, so in summary, there are two points of rotational articulation. One for frictionless mode (the ball free-rotating in the socket), one for mechanical mode (the shaft rotating inside the ball), the latter of which compensates for the former's alignment when switching modes. Only the latter exists in the simplified joint.

EDIT: Updated the wiki pages with this information.

 

[Gardener in the dark]

So you know... It'll work but you forgot some of the downsides of a joint that floats or is that mobile... Reduced bracing strength. Because it's floating there's just no way to hold it in place as solidly as physical contact with the "back wall".

Also how wide is it's float range when mechanical vs non-mechanical? can it aquire unconventional angles by keeping one angle, but floating up or down appropriately?

 

[Toshiro]

The lack of bracing strength has not been forgotten -- that is why it has an anchored mechanical mode, as well as why the mechanical mode has multiple such anchors instead of just two. While the illustrated one has only 4 anchors, it may be possible to put in 6, 8, etc. There is a strength limit in frictionless mode, so for lots of pushing power, melee combat, or heavy weapons with lots of recoil, the unit would have to switch to the mechanical mode.


It's hard for me to envision what you're asking to a degree, but I think I know what you're asking. I think you mean "Can you move the ball inside the socket without changing the alignment of the shaft", right? Well, while in theory a socket with lots of room could hold such a ball and do as you say, the metal shutter system which is used to protect the interior of the socket and the ball inside simply doesn't allow that. Such a system would require a very large opening for the socket, possibly larger than the ball, and it would need to be shielded somewhat differently.

 

[Zack]

Approved