Bio

David Askins-Gast is a rising senior at Moravian Academy in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He is interested in both film and digital photography. David takes part in various math contests at school. He did a research project on electromagnetic induction as a freshmen and a project with Mathematica on image processing as a sophomore. As a junior, David took both AP Calculus BC and AP Probability and Statistics. He runs cross country at school and loves both road biking and mountain biking. David has a passion for roller coasters that inspires him to one day pursue a career in engineering.

Project: Approximation of Ackermann Steering Geometry with a Trapezoidal Linkage

Ackermann steering geometry is a theoretical model for a steering system that has zero slip. It is achieved when all four wheels on a car are perpendicular to the same turning circle center. My Demonstration uses a simple three-bar linkage, which is a common approximation for Ackermann geometry. The linkage is arranged in a trapezoid so the wheel on the inside of a turn will angle more than the outside wheel.