Heterogeneous Drive Mechanisms for Novel Locomotion in Rough Terrain

<p>The smaller the robot the easier it is for it to access voids in a collapsed structure, however small size brings a host of other problems related to constrained resources. One of the primary constraints on small robots is limited motive power to surmount obstacles and navigate rough terrain. This thesis examines the addition of bulk motive force actuators to existing locomotion platforms and the impact of these heterogeneous actuators on conventional steering methods. The steering methods examined are those associated with skid steered vehicles and differential drive vehicles. In developing the Crabinator, a robot composed of a limbed crawler module and a single track drive module, it appeared that the resulting robot did not fit in the regime of differential drive. For that reason the heterogeneous differential drive class was developed. Similarly for the water hammer active tether module this system also did not appear to be a heterogeneous differential drive or skid steered vehicles. This system turned out to be even more general hence the more general class of heterogeneous drive vehicles which has input of accelerations rather then velocities as the previously mentioned classes.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters Thesis

Year dc:date.available

2009

Author dc:creator

• Godzdanker, Roy

Contributors dc:contributor

• Richard M. Voyles, Ph.D.
• Corinne Lengsfeld
• Siavash Pourkamali
• Kimon P. Valavanis

• Robotics
• Bulk motive force actuators
• Heterogeneous drive vehicles
• Computer Engineering
• Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Statement dc:rights

• <p>Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.</p>

Language dc:language

en

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/814

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.du.edu:etd-1813