A Study on Rocker-Bogie Suspension for a Planetary Rover Prototype

Abstract

In light of the notable rocker-bogie mechanism, this paper shows an ideal plan of a rocker-bogie suspension framework so as to ensure high mobile steadiness as well as excellent versatility of a prototype rover vehicle while traversing through rough terrains. It is essentially a suspension arrangement utilized in mechanical automated vehicles utilized explicitly for space investigation. The rocker-bogie suspension-based rovers have been effectively presented for the Mars Pathfinder and Mars Exploration Rover (MER) and Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) missions led by zenith space investigation laboratories all through the world. The proposed suspension framework is presently the most supported structure for each space investigation organization. It is basically a mechanism which comprises of two arms with wheel mounted to each and the two arms are associated through a versatile joint. The current development in design has been studied as well as a different approach towards designing the basic structure of suspension has been done. It has been further verified using various static and dynamic load calculations, solid modelling computer aided design software and simulation software for analysis and testing.