"Ignoramus32423" wrote in
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On 2015-04-06, Jim Wilkins wrote:
If you used an LM317 adjustable regulator for the tracks you could
tune the voltage for best performance while retaining control, and
waste less of the battery's energy as heat. You could put a knob on
the voltage adjustment pot so you have a throttle instead of just
on/off control.


Oh, and why would LM317 waste less energy as heat?

Because you could deliver the maximum acceptable voltage to the track
motors to move fast. Maybe it's 8 or 10V if you don't start or stop
with a jolt that breaks traction.

I'd put the throttle knob or slider under the thumb that holds the
box, and have enough resistance in series with the pot that the motors
creep at the pot's minimum setting. The switch would start the track
barely but visibly moving in the right direction, important when it's
not facing away from you, then you throttle up the speed.

-jsw