A Deformable Spherical Mobile Robot

Abstract

This paper presents a deformable spherical mobile robot that can be used in field environment. It can contract to be a small ball when storing and expand to be a hedgehog-like mobile robot when moving so as to employ rotating claws to improve its filed environment adaptability. Based on statics analysis, the factors influencing the performance of the robot are figured out. Its virtual prototype was built in ADAMS in order to validate such performances as linear motion and obstacle crossing motion. Simulation results show its good stability and excellent motion performance.