3D Kinematic Passive-Steering Control with Roll Compensation for Rover Trajectory Following over Rough Terrain

Abstract

Some of the most appealing areas for future planetary surface exploration lie in rough, uneven terrains, such as craters and cold traps, which are currently inaccessible by state-of-the-art robotic systems [1]. To provide modularity for access and in-situ sampling within such extreme environments, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and California Institute of Technology have collaborated to develop the DuAxel rover system, a modular robot composed of two Axel rappelling vehicles docked to a central module into a four-wheeled configuration, suited for driving long distances due to articulated passivesteering capabilities [2]. Inspired by Carnegie Mellon’s Zoë rover [3], a 3D kinematic control strategy, leveraging a novel, DuAxel-centric model, has been developed to enable precise trajectory following over rough, flat terrain with presence of obstacles.