Kinematic modeling and analysis of novel eight-wheel lunar rover

A new kind of eight-wheel lunar rover is developed, which is a complex closed-chain system and has good capabilities of climbing slope, surmounting obstacles and adapting to uneven terrain. In this paper, the mechanical structure of the novel eight-wheel lunar rover is introduced, forward and inverse kinematic models of the rover are established according to the closed-chain coordinate transformation and instantaneous coincidence coordinate. Based on structural characteristics, its kinetic characteristics are analyzed. Wheel slippages are separated and calculated, and a method for closed-loop control modification using wheel slip estimation during the model establishment is proposed. The results can be applied to the motion control of lunar rover.