LifeTrac

The LifeTrac Story ¶ 

This insane freak purrs like a cat and rips the ground. Major success.We have now demonstrated a workable design with LifeTrac II. Can it be any simpler? We took out the articulated joint that was present in LifeTrac I, since OSE Specifications prioritize simplicity. Skid steering may not be as elegant as articulated steering, but it works just as well. Moreover, a fixed wheel base allows us to mount tracks on the wheels, such that the obtainable traction surpasses that possible with LifeTrac I – which cannot accomodate tracks because of its articulated joint.

The frame is bolted together from 1/4″x4″x4″ mild steel square tubing. A hydraulic motor is mounted on each wheel. Quick-connect hoses run from each motor to the control valve. The PowerCube connects to the control valve with two additional quick-connect hoses.

The flexibility of the design is extraordinary – wheel motors are detachable and have quick couplers. The valve is detachable and has quick couplers. The hoses have quick couplers. This means that all these hydraulic components may be used elsewhere, as part of a flexible Lego set for real technology. Moreover, the quick disconnects allow this tractor to operate in 2 wheel drive and 4 wheel drive.

We know of no other machine in this world which features this level of part interchangeability or modularity. This is a feature that allows one to control equipment costs to the lowest possible – not only by repurposing components, but being able to service or repair the machine readily.

It turns out that 18 horsepower – or a single PowerCube unit – is quite satisfactory for driving this basic tractor. The next step is to build tracks to connect the wheel pair on each side, such that traction is never lost on uneven terrain.

If you would like to build the above tractor, the Blender drawings of 23rd of August, 2010, are exactly what we built as far as the frame above. We may shorten the wheel base if we have problems with skid steering – so this is a consideration for any early adopters out there.

Test Drive Video ¶ 

Build a LifeTrac ¶ 

Interested in the idea of building your own? Or, have a real need for a modular tractor designed for a long, useful life? Then consider building your own with this Build A LifeTrac Guide.