ParcelBot: A Tracked Parcel Transporter with High Obstacle Negotiation Capabilities
Mark H. Hoepflinger, David Baschung, C. David Remy, Marco Hutter, Roland Siegwart, Nicklas Hoch, Bernd Werther · Repository for Publications and Research Data (ETH Zurich) · 2012
This paper introduces ParcelBot, a tracked robot designed as an assistance device for packet delivery services.Its application field requires high mobility in an artificial environment, including the ability to overcome fairly large obstacles such as s or stairs.The platform is moving on tracks but consists of a mechanism to tilt the robot, so that it behaves like a wheeled system.Compared to pure tracked or wheeled robots, the combination leads to an increased obstacle climbing ability, superior maneuverability and higher energy efficiency due to less friction losses when navigating on flat ground.The paper focuses on the mechanical design of the prototype and highlights a selected number of experiments.