Watch RAD Racer first moments! http://www.youtube.com/user/RNDInnovators#p/a/u/0/IOYK3E9BMr8 Important Facts A front drive track system will NEVER have the ability to STOP as fast as RAD Technology! A front drive track system will ALWAYS have understeer or PUSH in the corners while accelerating! A front drive track system needs excess ski pressure for good handling, causing poor fuel economy, poor braking, heavy steering and darting! Unlike a front drive track system the  more AGGRESSIVE you drive, the  better a RAD Technology sled handles! Watch video below to see how torque reaction increases ground pressure forcing track into the ground! http://www.youtube.com/user/RNDInnovators?feature=mhum#p/u/11/NXSYvChQttM RND Innovators received the 2010 Invention of the Year Award by Popular Science magazine! Click link below to read story http://www.popsci.com/diy/article/2010-05/invention-awwards-faster-safer-snowmobiling  American Snowmobiler Magazine tested two RAD Technology equipped REV XP 800R prototypes in their Real World Shootout! The 151hp RAD Technology equipped machine reached 1 mph higher top speed compared to the 187hp Arctic Cat Z1 Turbo! The same prototype 2 stroke 800cc carbureted motor achieved 20.4 mpg! The highest fuel economy from a production sled was a fuel injected 4 stroke at 14.4 mpg during the same test. Both RAD Technology equipped sleds were at the front of the pack during most of the test. Rear Axle Drive Technology

Testing has shown . . . up to 72% increase in fuel economy Dyno tested 71% power to the ground up to 10 % increase in top speed Stop in 2/3 the distance Superior handling Virtually no change in performance while carrying a passenger The above claims are actual test results from third party testing. All tests were conducted against identical make and model machines using the same track and operator.  All comparisons were made side by side under the same surface conditions to ensure neither machine had the advantage. Engine and transmission components were left completely stock during all tests.   The only change made to the RAD Technology sled was the install of the drive system. How is this possible? How can RAD Technology make  that much of a difference? Read on . . . The fact is a front drive track system for a snowmobile is fighting physics! Aside from a straightline drag race and deep snow conditions, suspension behaviour is the opposite of what is desired! Let's be clear about why you would want a snowmobile equipped with RAD Technology!   The entire drive system has been designed from the ground up to be the simplest, most efficient method to get power to the ground! The reaction forces in the suspension have been calculated to give the desired result! Most people find it hard to believe the fuel economy can be so much better so let me start by explaining why this is. There are several ways RAD Technology increases fuel economy.  A conventional or front drive system traveling along a flat trail at a steady speed has a high percentage of weight on the front skis. Increased ski pressure causes darting, poor fuel economy and very poor stopping distances. Yes ski pressure is needed for good handling but again kills fuel economy, stopping distance and you have to muscle the sled to keep it inline going down a straight trail.  Now when you accelerate ski pressure decreases or skis are off the ground but this is when you need control! This is completely backwards!   RAD Technology takes advantage of simple physics to cure these problems. Picture a side view of the sled and try to look at the weight being applied to the ground at three points. Front being the skis, center being the front track position and rear being the rear drive axle.  My previous prototype with the adjustable height suspension, had the ability to manipulate the displacement of forces applied to the ground between these three points. Testing showed that minimal ski pressure gave the best fuel economy, no darting, no operator fatigue, excellent acceleration and incredibe stopping distances. This is great but you can't steer.  If you go to the opposite extreme where you have maximum ski pressure, by having minimal force applied to the center of sled (front track position), you get excellent handling and stability. Also, when you carry a passenger you actually have more ski pressure and no understeer in the corners. Again this is great but darting is severe, poor fuel economy, poor top speed, constant heavy steering effort, poor traction when accelerating, trenching occurs and you get stuck quickly when reversing.  Once all this information was collected I was able to calculate the reaction forces needed to give the best performance for each situation.  A Torque reaction from the rear drive axle makes it possible to have enough ant-squat (rise in rear suspension) to create an ideal suspension that automatically reacts based on throttle input.  When traveling at a steady speed along a flat trail most of the vehicles weight is applied to the center (front track). Ski pressure is light so you have no darting and great fuel economy. When you apply the throttle, torque reaction increases ground pressure at the rear drive axle causing a change in displacement. Weight is relieved from center and ski pressure increases. Makes sense? Now you have more control when you need it and a relaxed feel when you cruise. You feel confidence without fighting it through the trails.  To me the above mentioned is very important but I believe safety is more important! This way we can enjoy the experience again and again! You need to be able to stop fast to be safe!  Now that you understand how the torque reaction increases ground pressure at the rear axle think the opposite when you apply the brakes. There are many more factors involved but understand that ground pressure decreases at the rear axle and increases at the center point (front track). In the RAD 22 videos you will see the rear suspension compress when decelerating and the nose does not dive. Hence the incredible traction for stopping.  With a front drive system weight transfers forward to skis, rear end rises and long approach angle promotes hydroplaning . . . no wonder you slide forever. The other aspect which affects fuel economy, acceleration and top speed is the efficiency.  A long CVT drive belt has many advantages. An increased arc of contact around primary clutch reduces slip. Heat build up is reduced . . . especially while traveling at slow speeds when belt tension is high and before pulley surface speed has  matched belt speed. Longer belts inherently have higher horsepower ratings and much longer service life.  Pulley alignment is very critical with short belts. Engines need flexible mounts to absorb vibrations which cause metal fatigue, cracking or failure. Shift ratios change the direction belt tension is applied to secondary clutch which changes pulley alignment. With loads changing constantly there is no perfect alignment but rather an alignment that works well for the application. Using a long belt alleviates the concern for this undesirable situation. So understanding a long drive belt increases efficiency, lowers operating temperatures and creates a greater life expectancy, let's move on to the track. Applying tension to the track directly at the point of load is ideal. A front drive track system applies tension to 85% of the track in order to deliver power to the ground. Everytime you have a change in direction to a conveyor system between the drive and the load source you incur increased resistance. In other words an energy loss. Since the rear idler wheel on a front drive track system is under tension to get power to the ground, there is a power loss. Think of it as pulling power around a corner or radius. The stiffer the track the harder it would be to pull. With a rear drive system pulling directly on the bottom of the track the top side of the track is free wheeling so to speak. Since drive cogs are in contact with the ground less track tension is needed. It's more difficult for driver to climb cogs inside track. This allows top side of track to take on a larger radius when changing direction around center and front idler wheels.  I hope this explanation makes the advantages of RAD Technology seem a little more clear. RND Innovators will continue to develop this drive system with the intention of having an OEM offer this technology in a production snowmobile.

General patent information can be found here: http://www.uspto.gov/patents/resources/general_info_concerning_patents.jsp#heading-28     Infringement of a patent consists of the unauthorized making, using, offering for sale, or selling  any patented invention within the United States or U.S. Territories, or importing into the United States  of any patented invention during the term of the patent. If a patent is infringed, the patentee  may sue for relief in the appropriate federal court. U.S. Patent Number:   12/230,045 U.S. Patent Number:  7,836,984 Canada Patent Number: 2,654,873 Canada Patent Pending Number: 2,714,792     "RAD" Technology is a registered Trademark

[ Email this page to a friend ]