Rough terrain control optimization for space rovers has become a popular and challenging research field. Improvements can be achieved concerning power consumption, reducing the risk of wheels digging in and increasing ability of overcoming obstacles. In this paper, the authors propose a terrain profiling and wheel speed adjustment approach based on terrain shape estimation. This terrain estimation is performed using sensor data limited to IMU, motor encoders and suspension bogie angles. Markov Localization was also implemented in order to accurately keep track of the rover position.Tests were conducted in and outdoors in low and high friction environments. The control approach showed promising results in high friction environment: the profiled terrain was reconstructed well and, due to wheel speed control, wheel slippage could be also decreased. In the low friction sandy test bed however, terrain profiling still worked reasonably well, but uncertainties like wheel slip were too large for a significant control performance improvement.
Terrain Mapping and Control Optimization for a 6-Wheel Rover with Passive Suspension
Geländekartierung und Steuerungsoptimierung für ein Weltraumfahrzeug mit sechs Rädern
2013
14 Seiten
Conference paper
English
Martian rover wheel dynamics over icy terrain
Online Contents | 1997
|British Library Conference Proceedings | 2013
|SAE Technical Papers | 2013
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