CATERPILLAR TRACKS UNPACKED
Caterpillar tracks are found on tanks, tractors and loads of other tough vehicles; we go under the armour to find out how they work
WORDS MIKE JENNINGS
If you’ve seen a tank, a bulldozer or a digger, then you’ve seen caterpillar tracks in action. And while these systems look simple, there’s a lot D you k of technology, history and science behind their relentless march. Caterpillar tracks are sometimes called continuous tracks, and that The big name hints at how they work: it’s one tracks band of plates that never stops 100 moving. There are a few important reasons why tanks have caterpillar tracks and why they’re used on loads of other vehicles. For starters, tracks provide incredible traction on uneven, rough and slippery surfaces. They’re far better than wheels because they’ve got a larger contact area, and they can reach places where wheels just can’t go – even up sets of stairs or through ditches.