Design and Development of Rover Based Rocker Bogie Mechanism

Robust capabilities to deal with obstacle and the way the payload are distributed to all 6 wheels are the distinguish features of rocker bogie suspension system designed by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The system is good at dealing with obstacle but, the short come noted in the rocker bogie is its speed of its operation. This inadequacy in travel speed restricts the system to be used where the high speed operation on hard flat surfaces because it causes stability problems are required. In the current investigation it is intended to improve the stability of the system by expanding support polygon, making it more adaptable and stable while moving at higher speeds, but maintaining its robustness against obstacles. Initially the system was designed to be used in lower speeds, since it has capability to overcome obstacles of greater size compared to its wheel radius. When the system is operating at lower speeds greater than 173 mm/s the shocks on the system are minimum. But, in future mission’s rovers will have to work at human speeds, as the shocks from the obstacle may reduce the payload capacity of the rover. In the current design it is planned to develop an effective driving system to work more effectively in overcoming obstacle of greater size. Change in control strategy may improve the same without any change in the mechanical linkages in the system. But some of the mechanical changes are made to achieve greater advantages and also to improve the working speed of the vehicle.