Wheel-Walking Propulsion Unit of a Planetary Rover with Active Suspension

Abstract

The scheme of the propulsion unit with walking mechanism for a wheeled planetary rover is considered. The walking mechanism permits to convert the chassis in a transport position, displacement of rover’s center of mass so as to optimize the load on motor wheels. In wheeled motion the walking mechanism realize function of the active suspension for adaptation of the locomotion system to the surface features. On friable soils where wheeled locomotion is difficult or impossible, wheel-walking mode improves trafficability.