Volume :9 , Issue :1 ,Page :33-45

Abstract :Researchers carried out works on evaluation of mobility performance of planetary rovers, which helps to solve and overcome the current existing problems on a loose soil/sloppy terrain. Problems which arise on planetary surfaces are - surface unevenness, obstacles (stones, rivers, boulders etc.), environmental risk (wind, humidity, dust, air, snow etc.), sloping and climbing conditions etc. To optimize and give better performance, it is necessary to study the trafficability, maneuverability and terrainability characteristics related to good performance conditions of the wheeled rover/tracked rover on planetary surfaces before going for its design. The aim of this paper is to bring out the significance of mobility performance parameters of planetary rover on travelling performance. Trafficability has the most significant effect on its traveling performance of planetary rover. Hence, it is needed to conduct major studies on trafficability – how it affects, how it varies, and how it improves, the travelling performance from its parameters behavior. This paper mainly focuses on, and brings out an overview on study of mobility performance parameters of planetary rovers that travels on flat terrain/sloppy terrain. The observations and inferences from the various works carried by researchers on performance indices are also outlined in this paper. Experimental results for compaction resistance and rolling resistance are also presented and influence on its mobility is briefly explained.