Answers.Body: <p>I think it would be more realistic to have the robot drive in a straight line but have a linkage to the foci of the ellipse that "pulls" the robot towards the center of the ellipse just as orbiting objects are pulled toward Earth by gravity.</p>
  
  <p>For example, you could use two nails in a board as the foci. Tie a string in a loop to use as the linkage. Place the string loop around the nails and attach to the side of the robot. Drive the robot forwards (no steering). It will travel in an ellipse. You could even attach a pen to the robot to draw the ellipse.</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/RSIuS.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/RSIuS.png" alt="sketch of idea"></a></p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-08-16T16:37:09.097Z
Answers.Text: I'm not too sure from looking at your drawing but does this method draw an ellipse or something more like a [race course](http://www.dsr.wa.gov.au/images/default-source/spuuort-and-advice/facility-management/sports-dimensions/Standard-competition-athletics-track.png?sfvrsn=4)?
Answers.UserDisplayName: Ambo100
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-08-16T19:00:53.673Z
Answers.Text: This is a well-know method of drawing an ellipse. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellipse#Drawing_ellipses
Answers.UserDisplayName: David Lechner
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-08-16T19:51:25.597Z
Answers.Text: Sorry. I can see what you mean now.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Ambo100
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-08-08T15:10:33.727Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2016-08-08T15:10:33.727Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: David Lechner
Body: <p>Has anyone succeeded in having the EV3 driving base moving following an ellipse? I would like the kids to think about how would we program a satellite orbiting around earth. </p>
  
  <p>They would input the equation for the ellipse and then they will have the robot driving around it. Any thoughts?</p>
  
Tags: <ev3><programming>
Title: How can I make an EV3 vehicle follow an elliptic equation?
UserDisplayName: Alessio Gusmeroli
ThreadText: # How can I make an EV3 vehicle follow an elliptic equation?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2016-08-08)
  
  Has anyone succeeded in having the EV3 driving base moving following an ellipse? I would like the kids to think about how would we program a satellite orbiting around earth.
  
  They would input the equation for the ellipse and then they will have the robot driving around it. Any thoughts?
  
  **Tags:** ev3, programming
  
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  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2016-08-08. Score: 5
  
  I think it would be more realistic to have the robot drive in a straight line but have a linkage to the foci of the ellipse that "pulls" the robot towards the center of the ellipse just as orbiting objects are pulled toward Earth by gravity.
  
  For example, you could use two nails in a board as the foci. Tie a string in a loop to use as the linkage. Place the string loop around the nails and attach to the side of the robot. Drive the robot forwards (no steering). It will travel in an ellipse. You could even attach a pen to the robot to draw the ellipse.
  
  [![sketch of idea](https://i.sstatic.net/RSIuS.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/RSIuS.png)
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_2**: I'm not too sure from looking at your drawing but does this method draw an ellipse or something more like a [race course](http://www.dsr.wa.gov.au/images/default-source/spuuort-and-advice/facility-management/sports-dimensions/Standard-competition-athletics-track.png?sfvrsn=4)?  
  > **username_1**: This is a well-know method of drawing an ellipse. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellipse#Drawing_ellipses  
  > **username_2**: Sorry. I can see what you mean now.  
  
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