A reconfigurable tracked mobile robot based on four-linkage mechanism

Abstract

A novel reconfigurable tracked robot based on four-link mechanism was proposed and released for the complicated terrain environment. This robot was modularly designed and developed, which is composed of one suspension and one pair of symmetrical deployed reconfigurable track modules. This robot can implement multiple locomotion configurations by changing the track configuration, and the geometric theory analysis shows that the track length keeps constant during the process of track reconfiguration. Furthermore, a parameterized geometric model of the robot was established to analyze the kinematic performance of the robot while overcoming various obstacles. To investigate the feasibility and correctness of design theory and robot scheme, an example robot was designed to climb 45° slopes and 200 mm steps, and a group of design parameters of the robot were determined. Finally, A prototype of this robot was developed, and the test results show that the robot own powerful mobility and obstacle overcoming performance, for example, running across obstacle like mantis, extending to stride over entrenchment, standing up to elevate height, and going ahead after overturn.

Keywords

tracked mobile robot / four-linkage mechanism / mobility / reconfigurable robot

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