A wind‐electric hybrid polar roaming robot: Design, modeling, and experiments

Abstract

AbstractThe background observation of the polar region is used to develop the requirements with regard to low carbon and no pollution for scientific research. Polar robots have certain advantages over human beings, but their long‐term residence still faces the problems of energy supply and autonomous control. To solve this problem, a hybrid wind‐ and electricity‐driven polar roaming robot is presented and includes the consideration of low carbon and energy savings. It innovatively uses wind energy as the main driving force and is assisted by electric energy, which is used when wind energy is not sufficiently available. In the ideal scenario, compared with traditional pure electric‐driven robots, it can save up to approximately 3/4 of energy. In this paper, the design principle is described, then the sail structure and some innovative mechanisms of the robot are designed, and the theoretical analysis and simulation of the mechanisms are carried out. The innovative mechanism enables good motion control under wind and electric drives, as well as the switching of the drive modes. Of particular importance, the aerodynamic performance of the sail structure is analyzed, and the optimal control scheme for sailing the robot is proposed. Then, a prototype of the polar robot is developed, the structure rationality and principle feasibility of which are verified in experiments, and the energy‐saving effect is confirmed by calculation.