New mechanism of attitude control for hopping robot

Abstract

This paper proposes a four-wheel-type robot with the springs and linear actuators mechanism. In the microgravity environment, hopping mobility is a possible choice for enhancing a new mobility of the robot. The proposed robot can hop and land without bounding in the microgravity environment using the spring mechanism. Furthermore, at the moment of hopping, the wheels are pressed to the ground, so the rover can obtain the horizontal velocity by rotating the wheels. The wheels are also used for the attitude control in the air. The simulation of hopping with horizontal velocity is performed and the equation of kinematics of the rover is developed.