Knuckles for custom build

[tdawn]

Hi
I'm building a autonomous robot(university project) that should navigate on a corn field. Our team doesn't have any RC knowledge so help would be appriciated.
It will resemble that

Basic structure

Four wheel steernig, four wheel drive
One motor+steering servo per axle

RS540 motor + gearbox
Team xray xb9 central differentials coupled to the gearbox with a gear

Custom stiff axles
   
We need
Steering knuckles
Wheel axles+hex nuts and bearings
Dogbones

It will go quite slowly (~1.5m/s =5.5km/h) and be heavy (under 20kg)
We will have to shorten the dogbones(differential won't be mounted on the centerline)
    If the wheel axle and it's dogbones are not compatible with xb9 differential it won't matter
We want tight turning circle and crab steering
Wheels will probably be custom made (milled plastic+glued tread)

Requirements
Strong dogbones, small dogbones won't survive the cutting and coupling
Strong wheel axles, one axle snapped during previous competition
Knuckle with no camber, it will look funny and make our instructor unhappy. We are trying to keep it simple so no caster blocks.

Bonus points
We have two leftover cnc knuckles for Kyosho mad force
    if the new knuckles would utilize mad force compatible axles we could use the leftovers
Good availability in europe(need to get spares fast when we break it)

 

Any suggestions?
 

[-BEZ-]

Welcome to the forum

 

Its nice to see some new innovate projects

 

It might be worth trying to find a Hobao Hyper 7 buggy roller  (or any 8th scale buggy) cheap on ebay and chopping it up to gain access to the parts you require to help finish your chassis. They can be had for as little as

[mugen mark]

at a round 20 kg you may need more than a 540 motor

[tdawn]

at a round 20 kg you may need more than a 540 motor

Motor size is based on the instructors experience from previous years. I assume that planetary gearbox allows the use of such tiny motor.

[tdawn]

Hobao Hyper is the only truck/buggy that has been suggested and it's just what i have been looking for. Not too small, 4WD and spare parts are easy to find. Certain it doesn't have camber? 
 
Would 1/10 rock crawlers do the job? Any bigger crawlers available?

 

This is what i'm trying to do

 

http://www.msuk-forum.co.uk/gallery/image/30733-axle/