Mobile Robot Prototypes with Different Locomotion Configurations

In the last few decades, the area of robotics has evolved immensely, creating new and improved robot mobility solutions for industrial, scientific, medical, and several other purposes. Among these solutions is the car-like robot, using wheels to move. However, there are many different options within this solution, different types of wheels and configurations on the robot that each offer key advantages for a variety of objectives. Choosing a wheel configuration for robot vehicles is extremely important for the robot’s mobility, and its purpose must be considered while studying all the options. Starting on an existing prototype with a differential configuration, other configurations were implemented to study their differences, their strong and weak points, and the trajectories they allow the robot to make. This analysis will make the choice of configuration for each scenario clearer. This paper presents three types of robot configurations and compares them according to requirements using real prototype robots that are shared with the community for many purposes, such as education, among others.