Simulation and experimental investigation of kinematic characteristics of the wheeled in-pipe robot actuated by the unbalanced rotor

Abstract

Mobile robotic systems are currently of significant interest due to the wide range of possible applications. Among a great variety of mobile robots, specific attention is paid to the wheeled ones. The main purpose of this research consists in substantiating the possibilities of improving the vibration-driven robot equipped with the unidirectionally rotating wheels. The methodology of the present study contains the development of the robot’s 3D-model in the SolidWorks software, constructing the simplified dynamic diagram of the robot’s oscillatory system, and developing its simulation model in the MapleSim software. The research results are obtained by numerical solving of the motion equations in the MapleSim software, by simulating the robot locomotion conditions in the SolidWorks software, and by conducting experiments. The results present the main kinematic characteristics of the robot motion under different operational conditions. The major scientific novelty of this paper consists in developing the improved design of the wheeled robot driven by the centrifugal (inertial) vibration exciter and substantiating its operational peculiarities. The obtained results can be effectively used while creating the production prototypes of mobile robotic systems, particularly those for cleaning the pipelines and monitoring (inspecting) their inner surfaces, welds, joints, couplings, etc.