Unmanned lunar exploration bionic mesh wheel design and performance study

Abstract

Abstract Addressing the limitations of traditional lunar exploration mesh wheels in improving the traction performance of unmanned lunar rovers through conventional optimization, this study introduces a novel bionic mesh wheel design inspired by the characteristics of ostrich toes. A comparative wheel design is also developed for control experiments. Discrete element simulations are conducted for both the bionic and comparative wheels. Comparative analysis of their macroscopic simulation data reveals that the bionic wheel outperforms the comparative wheel in terms of traction performance. Furthermore, the bionic wheel exhibits higher traction efficiency and energy savings at lower slip ratios. The feasibility of the proposed design is validated through soil trough experiments, providing evidence for its practical viability in enhancing the traction capabilities of unmanned lunar exploration vehicles.