Design of the drive system for an explorer robot with a continuous track traction system

Exploration robots face a challenge in maintaining stability when traversing uneven surfaces. This article aims to address this issue by proposing the design of a drive system that enables an exploration robot to adapt to terrain irregularities and achieve greater traction capability. The design par...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Marco Amaya-Pinos, Mateo Torres-Espinoza, Joan Uruchima-Castro, Castro Julio Loja-Quezada, Luis M. López-López
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-08-01
Series:Advances in Mechanical Engineering
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/16878132251360190
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849339839914180608
author Marco Amaya-Pinos
Mateo Torres-Espinoza
Joan Uruchima-Castro
Castro Julio Loja-Quezada
Luis M. López-López
author_facet Marco Amaya-Pinos
Mateo Torres-Espinoza
Joan Uruchima-Castro
Castro Julio Loja-Quezada
Luis M. López-López
author_sort Marco Amaya-Pinos
collection DOAJ
description Exploration robots face a challenge in maintaining stability when traversing uneven surfaces. This article aims to address this issue by proposing the design of a drive system that enables an exploration robot to adapt to terrain irregularities and achieve greater traction capability. The design parameters for the robot’s desired operation are established. Subsequently, the design of the drive system is proposed, consisting of three subsystems: the suspension system, the traction system, and the transmission system. To ensure that the proposed design functions properly under the desired parameters, an analysis is conducted using finite element methods. The resulting analysis provides the stresses, deformations, and safety factors of the components that make up the drive system. Overall, the analyzed components exhibit minimal deformations, which remain within the elastic range, as the yield strength of the materials from which they are made is not exceeded. This article concludes that the proposed design operates reliably under the stresses it must withstand and that a drive system capable of adapting to surface irregularities is essential, as it enhances the mobility of exploration robots.
format Article
id doaj-art-5f4eae5fb80f4c4dbe202c2779245677
institution Kabale University
issn 1687-8140
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher SAGE Publishing
record_format Article
series Advances in Mechanical Engineering
spelling doaj-art-5f4eae5fb80f4c4dbe202c27792456772025-08-20T03:44:02ZengSAGE PublishingAdvances in Mechanical Engineering1687-81402025-08-011710.1177/16878132251360190Design of the drive system for an explorer robot with a continuous track traction systemMarco Amaya-Pinos0Mateo Torres-Espinoza1Joan Uruchima-Castro2Castro Julio Loja-Quezada3Luis M. López-López4 Grupo de Investigación y Desarrollo en Simulación, Optimización y Toma de Decisiones GID-STD, Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador Grupo de Investigación y Desarrollo en Simulación, Optimización y Toma de Decisiones GID-STD, Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador Grupo de Investigación y Desarrollo en Simulación, Optimización y Toma de Decisiones GID-STD, Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador Grupo de Investigación y Desarrollo en Simulación, Optimización y Toma de Decisiones GID-STD, Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador Grupo de Investigación en Nuevos Materiales y Procesos de Transformación GIMAT, Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, Cuenca, Azuay, EcuadorExploration robots face a challenge in maintaining stability when traversing uneven surfaces. This article aims to address this issue by proposing the design of a drive system that enables an exploration robot to adapt to terrain irregularities and achieve greater traction capability. The design parameters for the robot’s desired operation are established. Subsequently, the design of the drive system is proposed, consisting of three subsystems: the suspension system, the traction system, and the transmission system. To ensure that the proposed design functions properly under the desired parameters, an analysis is conducted using finite element methods. The resulting analysis provides the stresses, deformations, and safety factors of the components that make up the drive system. Overall, the analyzed components exhibit minimal deformations, which remain within the elastic range, as the yield strength of the materials from which they are made is not exceeded. This article concludes that the proposed design operates reliably under the stresses it must withstand and that a drive system capable of adapting to surface irregularities is essential, as it enhances the mobility of exploration robots.https://doi.org/10.1177/16878132251360190
spellingShingle Marco Amaya-Pinos
Mateo Torres-Espinoza
Joan Uruchima-Castro
Castro Julio Loja-Quezada
Luis M. López-López
Design of the drive system for an explorer robot with a continuous track traction system
Advances in Mechanical Engineering
title Design of the drive system for an explorer robot with a continuous track traction system
title_full Design of the drive system for an explorer robot with a continuous track traction system
title_fullStr Design of the drive system for an explorer robot with a continuous track traction system
title_full_unstemmed Design of the drive system for an explorer robot with a continuous track traction system
title_short Design of the drive system for an explorer robot with a continuous track traction system
title_sort design of the drive system for an explorer robot with a continuous track traction system
url https://doi.org/10.1177/16878132251360190
work_keys_str_mv AT marcoamayapinos designofthedrivesystemforanexplorerrobotwithacontinuoustracktractionsystem
AT mateotorresespinoza designofthedrivesystemforanexplorerrobotwithacontinuoustracktractionsystem
AT joanuruchimacastro designofthedrivesystemforanexplorerrobotwithacontinuoustracktractionsystem
AT castrojuliolojaquezada designofthedrivesystemforanexplorerrobotwithacontinuoustracktractionsystem
AT luismlopezlopez designofthedrivesystemforanexplorerrobotwithacontinuoustracktractionsystem