# Design and Analysis of Steering and Lifting Mechanisms for Forestry Vehicle Chassis

Authors: Wenhao Li; Feng Kang
Journal: Mathematical Problems in Engineering
 (2020)

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## Abstract

Due to its special topographical structure, the forest working environment requires a vehicle chassis that can adapt well to complex terrain conditions. This article describes the key components of a chassis that was designed to adapt to complex terrain. The working principle and structural design of the steering structure and the lifting structure are analyzed in detail, and function verification is carried out. The steering mechanism has three degrees of freedom, and the first degree of freedom reduces the body’s inclination by 30°. The second degree of freedom can increase the steering angle of the chassis to 47°, decreasing the turning radius of the chassis. The third degree of freedom reduces the body rollover inclination by 30°. The entire steering mechanism enhances the ride and stability of the chassis. With the lifting mechanism, the wheel-legs are lifted so that the chassis can pass a limit height of 187 mm, and the wheel-legs are lowered to raise the center of gravity of the vehicle chassis by 244 mm. The entire lifting mechanism greatly improves the vehicle's ability to cross forest terrain. The size is reduced by 10% compared to other structures, and the lifting height and obstacle resistance are improved by 12.7%.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Forestry vehicles used to perform forestry tasks such as logging, exploration, harvesting, and transporting logs have limitations. These vehicles must move over the rough terrain of the forest [1, 2]. However, the biggest challenge for forestry vehicles today is the poor quality of forest roads. Therefore, it is necessary to develop forestry chassis that adapt to complex terrain conditions [3–5]. In the current research stage, forestry vehicles are based on the following two types of chassis: tracked or wheeled [6]. Edlund et al. design a special type of tracked chassis with a new bogie [7]. This chassis has superior cross-country capability compared to common wheeled vehicles, but they also have poor maneuverability, especially poor steering performance. A tracked omnidirectional vehicle was designed by Zhang and Huang [8]. The vehicle has superior steering efficiency and omnidirectional motion ability on uneven terrains. A study of machine design for a transformable shape tracked vehicle system was presented by Kim et al. [9]. Utilization of a variety of shapes provided enhanced ability to surmount obstacles. However, vehicles with a tracked chassis cause major damage to the soil and surrounding plants in the forests. A luffing wheel-leg robot with six legs was introduced by Sun and Liu [10]. This robot can surmount obstacles actively on forest roads. However, this robot has low efficiency for surmounting obstacles. Yao et al. design an innovative all-terrain vehicle with diameter-variable wheels [11]. This vehicle could vary their diameter and overcome higher obstacles compared to standard wheels. But the complicated wheel structure is associated with some risks. Ge and Wang proposed a model of a quadruped eccentric wheel chassis, which achieved excellent performance when crossing obstacles [12]. But vehicle has disappointing driving comfort. In summary, it is particularly significant to design a forest chassis which can overcome the forest problems and can operate stably. This chassis must have stable motion smoothness, good vehicle steering function, and efficient crossing obstacles ability.Generally, mobile robots can be divided into three types: wheeled, crawler, and legged robots [13]. Wheeled robots can move fast and have good stability on flat terrain, but they have difficultly overcoming obstacles on rough terrain. Crawler robots can better navigate obstacles and have better ground adaptability on unstructured ground but have the disadvantage of high energy consumption. Legged robots have the best moving performance on rough terrain, with the disadvantages of slow speed and complicated mechanism and control systems [14–16]. At present, the wheel-leg hybrid mobile robot has become the focus of research because many of the advantages of wheeled and legged robots can be integrated [17–19]. In order to adapt to the complex terrain environment and solve the operation problems in the unstructured environment, the wheel-leg hybrid robot becomes the best solution [20]. There are three situations in wheel-leg robot runs over obstacle. When the double-sided wheels cross the obstacle at the same time, the front and rear end of the frame form a pitch angle. When one side wheel crosses the obstacle, the other side wheel runs smoothly, and the left and right ends of the frame form a rollover angle. When the robot climbs the slope, the frame will form a tilt angle [21, 22]. The wheel-leg structure can complete the three types of obstacle crossing, and the frame always runs horizontally. The wheel-leg robot has good road profile and ability to cross obstacles [23, 24].Key components of the FC-3DOF&LW include a three-degree-of-freedom (3DOFS) articulated structure and a wheel-leg lifting structure (WLLS) [25]. The 3DOFS structure is used for the parallel connection of the front and rear bodies. Due to the particularity of its waist turning, it has better turning radius characteristics than those of the deflection wheel steering [26]. The remaining two degrees of freedom can increase the stability of the deflection from the ground profile as the vehicle crosses an obstacle. The WLLS of the chassis is used to address obstacles; the lifting of the lifting hydraulic cylinder and the countersupporting of the hydraulic cylinder stabilize the chassis plane [27].This article mainly introduces the design of the mechanical structure and three-degree-of-freedom (3DOFS) forms, determines its functionality, and verifies the function to meet the design criteria. This article also introduces the mechanical structure design of the variable amplitude WLLS. The mathematical model is established, the structural function is analyzed, the obstacle form of the variable amplitude wheel-leg in different working environments is determined, and the function is verified. The studies performed by Zhu et al. introduced a forestry obstacle chassis, and the main obstacle component is the luffing wheel-leg structure [25, 27]. Compared with its structure, the structure described in this article has improved in performance and function. The hydraulic cylinder structure size is reduced by 10%, and the lifting height is increased by 12.7%. All the active parts have been switched to hydraulic drives. It avoids the complexity of power mixing and improves energy efficiency.


## 2. Design of the Structure

### 2.1. Concept Design of the Overall Vehicle

In order to surmount rough terrain in the forest, the concept of the vehicle has been designed as Figure1. It consists of two frames, a 3DOFS and four WLLS. The two frames are connected by an articulated structure with three degrees of freedom. Importantly, the four rear wheel-legs with a lifting function are attached to the rear frame and distributed on both sides symmetrically. In this design, key body structures of the vehicle include 3DOFS and WLLS. Especially, 3DOFS contributes to enhance the capacity to traverse obstacles, and WLLS ensures smooth obstacle surmounting.Figure 1
Structure of the overall vehicle. 1, front frame; 2, three-degree-of-freedom structure (3DOFS); 3, power train; 4, rear frame; 5, wheel-leg lifting structure (WLLS).


### 2.2. Key Structure Research Methods

After using SolidWorks software for 3D modeling and stress-strain analysis, two key structures have problems. The structures were optimized, and the functions were improved by redesigning the structure and selecting standard components. The specific research method is shown in Figure2.Figure 2
Key structure research workflow.


### 2.3. Three-Degree-of-Freedom Structure

Articulated structure is a mechanism which is used in engineering vehicle to make a turn. Due to the rigid design of the traditional articulate structure, the structure is subjected to greater stress during the connection process. It is difficult to adapt to complex terrain in forest. Based on the reason above, articulated structure with three degrees of freedom is shown in Figure3, which can roll in three directions. This structure is a passive mechanism, which can enhance the capacity to adapt to terrain. When driving in a complex road environment, it ensures full-time contact between wheels and ground.Figure 3
The three-degree-of-freedom structure. 1, first-degree-of-freedom pin; 2, steering front baffle; 3, steering hydraulic cylinder R; 4, third-degree-of-freedom pin; 5, steering rear baffle; 6, steering hydraulic cylinder L; 7, upper and lower covers; 8, second-degree-of-freedom pin.As shown in Figure3, the 3DOFS can be divided into three degrees of freedom of a symmetrical structure. The first degree of freedom is composed of a rotating pin and a steering front baffle for controlling the angle of the front frame and the rear frame when rolling over an obstacle. The second degree of freedom consists of a rotating pin, upper and lower covers, and two hydraulic cylinders for controlling the waist turning and the corresponding turning radius. The third degree of freedom consists of a rotating pin and a steering baffle for controlling the angular adjustment between the rear frame and the front frame when rolling over an obstacle.


### 2.4. Three-Degree-of-Freedom Structure Functionality

The first degree of freedom of the front axle is set to 30° at the upper limit and 15 degrees at the lower limit. This constraint is used to reduce the inclination angle of the front and rear frames during obstacle crossing and can effectively improve the stability of the rear frame. The second degree of freedom of the central axle sets the deflection angle to 47°, to adjust the turning corner angle. The third degree of freedom of the rear axle sets the left and right limit angles to 30°, to reduce the tilt angle of the front and rear frames when a single side is over obstacle, thereby effectively improving the smoothness of the front frame.


### 2.5. Wheel-Leg Lifting Structure

The variable amplitude wheel-legs are active devices that control movement by the upper and lower hydraulic cylinders and can realize two working modes. It can be known from Figure4 that when the lifting hydraulic cylinder is shortened, the wheel-legs are raised, and when the lowering hydraulic cylinder is extended, the wheel-legs are lowered or the chassis height is raised. With this uncoupled motion, it is more convenient to control the wheel position to enhance the chassis driving ability [28–30].Figure 4
Structure of the wheel-leg lifting. 1, swing arm baffle; 2, lowering hydraulic cylinder; 3, triangle turntable; 4, lifting hydraulic cylinder; 5, fixed structure; 6, connection structure; 7, swing arm baffle case; 8, tire.


## 2.1. Concept Design of the Overall Vehicle

In order to surmount rough terrain in the forest, the concept of the vehicle has been designed as Figure1. It consists of two frames, a 3DOFS and four WLLS. The two frames are connected by an articulated structure with three degrees of freedom. Importantly, the four rear wheel-legs with a lifting function are attached to the rear frame and distributed on both sides symmetrically. In this design, key body structures of the vehicle include 3DOFS and WLLS. Especially, 3DOFS contributes to enhance the capacity to traverse obstacles, and WLLS ensures smooth obstacle surmounting.Figure 1
Structure of the overall vehicle. 1, front frame; 2, three-degree-of-freedom structure (3DOFS); 3, power train; 4, rear frame; 5, wheel-leg lifting structure (WLLS).


## 2.2. Key Structure Research Methods

After using SolidWorks software for 3D modeling and stress-strain analysis, two key structures have problems. The structures were optimized, and the functions were improved by redesigning the structure and selecting standard components. The specific research method is shown in Figure2.Figure 2
Key structure research workflow.


## 2.3. Three-Degree-of-Freedom Structure

Articulated structure is a mechanism which is used in engineering vehicle to make a turn. Due to the rigid design of the traditional articulate structure, the structure is subjected to greater stress during the connection process. It is difficult to adapt to complex terrain in forest. Based on the reason above, articulated structure with three degrees of freedom is shown in Figure3, which can roll in three directions. This structure is a passive mechanism, which can enhance the capacity to adapt to terrain. When driving in a complex road environment, it ensures full-time contact between wheels and ground.Figure 3
The three-degree-of-freedom structure. 1, first-degree-of-freedom pin; 2, steering front baffle; 3, steering hydraulic cylinder R; 4, third-degree-of-freedom pin; 5, steering rear baffle; 6, steering hydraulic cylinder L; 7, upper and lower covers; 8, second-degree-of-freedom pin.As shown in Figure3, the 3DOFS can be divided into three degrees of freedom of a symmetrical structure. The first degree of freedom is composed of a rotating pin and a steering front baffle for controlling the angle of the front frame and the rear frame when rolling over an obstacle. The second degree of freedom consists of a rotating pin, upper and lower covers, and two hydraulic cylinders for controlling the waist turning and the corresponding turning radius. The third degree of freedom consists of a rotating pin and a steering baffle for controlling the angular adjustment between the rear frame and the front frame when rolling over an obstacle.


## 2.4. Three-Degree-of-Freedom Structure Functionality

The first degree of freedom of the front axle is set to 30° at the upper limit and 15 degrees at the lower limit. This constraint is used to reduce the inclination angle of the front and rear frames during obstacle crossing and can effectively improve the stability of the rear frame. The second degree of freedom of the central axle sets the deflection angle to 47°, to adjust the turning corner angle. The third degree of freedom of the rear axle sets the left and right limit angles to 30°, to reduce the tilt angle of the front and rear frames when a single side is over obstacle, thereby effectively improving the smoothness of the front frame.


## 2.5. Wheel-Leg Lifting Structure

The variable amplitude wheel-legs are active devices that control movement by the upper and lower hydraulic cylinders and can realize two working modes. It can be known from Figure4 that when the lifting hydraulic cylinder is shortened, the wheel-legs are raised, and when the lowering hydraulic cylinder is extended, the wheel-legs are lowered or the chassis height is raised. With this uncoupled motion, it is more convenient to control the wheel position to enhance the chassis driving ability [28–30].Figure 4
Structure of the wheel-leg lifting. 1, swing arm baffle; 2, lowering hydraulic cylinder; 3, triangle turntable; 4, lifting hydraulic cylinder; 5, fixed structure; 6, connection structure; 7, swing arm baffle case; 8, tire.


## 3. Motion Analysis

### 3.1. Turning Radius Design

Considering the actual working environment and size of the chassis, the intermediate hinged connection uses a folding waist. Waist turning has the advantages of a small turning radius, smooth movement, and simple operation. Compared with traditional deflection wheel steering, the structure is simple, and the turning radius is small [31–33].As shown in Figures5 and 6, the vehicle model consists of an independently designed chassis size. M1 is the distance between the front wheels. M2 is the distance between the rear wheels. S is the distance between the front and rear wheels of the rear frame. L1 is the distance between the hinge point and the front wheel axle. L2 is the distance between the hinge point and the rear wheel axle. θ is the steering angle. δ means the deflection angle between two wheels. The turning radius of each wheel is as follows:(1)R1=M12+L1sinθcosθ+L2sinθ−L1tanθ.Figure 5
Sketch of waist steering radius.Figure 6
Sketch of single-axis steering radius.R
1 represents the turning radius of the front wheel:(2)R3=M22+L1sinθ+L2tanθ.R
3 represents the turning radius of the rear wheel:(3)R2=R32+S2.R
2 represents the turning radius of the middle wheel.R′, ordinary three-axle car single-axis steering radius, is as follows:(4)R′=L1+L2+S2/4L1+L2sinθ−δ.According to the data in Table1, the waist turning radius and the normal deflection wheel steering radius are calculated. A data comparison showed that the waist turning radius can be reduced by 15%. The formula for calculating the steering radius in the waist turning radius is a monotonically decreasing function. Therefore, as the turning angle of the waist is further increased, the turning radius of the waist will be further reduced, and the obstacle passing performance will improve. In addition, the steering angle of the waist steering can continue to increase within the range allowed by the structural conditions.Table 1
Initial parameters of the chassis.
Parameter
Unit
Value
M
1
mm
660
M
2
mm
750
S
mm
1960
L
1
mm
765
L
2
mm
2295
θ
°
45
δ
°
5In the concept design of the whole vehicle, the 3DOFS is responsible for adjusting the turning radius. Within the range allowed by the structural conditions, the larger steering angle makes the smaller steering radius. Steering angle adjustment is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder. Steering angle adjustment is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder. Therefore, the hydraulic cylinder with a suitable structural size is selected to make the steering radius not less than 45°.As shown in Figure7, La indicates the length of the steering front baffle, Lb represents the length of the steering rear baffle, Lc means the length of the upper and lower covers, and D1 is the diameter of the second-degree-of-freedom pin. By selecting the stroke of the hydraulic cylinder 350 mm, the hydraulic cylinder length varies between 570 and 920 mm. When the hydraulic cylinder at one end contracts to the shortest position, the maximum steering angle is reached. By analyzing the sketch of the 3DOFS in AUTOCAD software, it is found that the steering angle θ reaches 47°, which is greater than 45°, and the steering radius will be further reduced.Figure 7
Sketch of the three-degree-of-freedom structure: (a) right limit corner position; (b) normal position; (c) left limit corner position.
(a)
(b)
(c)


### 3.2. Wheel-Leg Motion Analysis

To analyze the basic motion of the variable amplitude wheel-legs, a simple mathematical model of the variable amplitude wheel-legs is needed. Two forms of motion of the wheel-leg, lifting and falling, are shown as Figures8 and 9. The lifting height and the falling height of the leg are calculated by simplifying the model.Figure 8
Sketch of wheel-leg lifting.Figure 9
Sketch of wheel-leg dropping.As shown in Figures8 and 9, due to the uncoupled movement of the lifting hydraulic cylinder and the descending hydraulic cylinder, during the lifting process, the lifting hydraulic cylinder is extended, the length of the descending hydraulic cylinder is constant, and wheel-leg lifting is realized. During the descent process, the descending hydraulic cylinder is extended, the length of the lifting hydraulic cylinder is constant, and the wheel-leg is lowered or the center of gravity of the chassis is raised. According to the plan model in the figure, the amount of displacement of the wheel-leg in the vertical direction can be calculated.During the lifting process, the centroid displacement of the wheel-leg is as follows:(5)∠ADO=arccosLAD2+LOD2−LOA22×LAD×LOD,∠A′DO=arccosLA′D2+LOD2−LOA′22×LA′D×LOD,∠BDC=360°−∠ODC−∠ADB−∠ADO,∠B′DC=360°−∠ODC−∠A′DB′−∠A′DO,LBC2=LCD2+LBD2−2×LCD×LBD×cos∠BDC,LB′C2=LCD2+LB′D2−2×LCD×LB′D×cos∠B′DC.It can be seen from the above conditions thatΔBCE,ΔB′CE′,ΔBCD,andΔB′CD are fully solved. Thus, the following results are available:(6)∠BCE=arccosLBC2+LCE2−LBE22×LBC×LCE,∠B′CE′=arccosLB′C2+LCE′2−LB′E′22×LB′C×LCE′,∠BCD=arccosLBC2+LCD2−LBD22×LBC×LCD,∠B′CD=arccosLB′C2+LCD2−LB′D22×LB′C×LCD,α=∠BCD+∠B′CD,θ=∠BCE−∠B′CE′+α.The vertical distance betweenF and F′’ HFF′⊥ can be expressed as(7)HFF′⊥=LCF′sinθ−λ+LCFsinλ.During the dropping process, the centroid displacement of the wheel-leg is as follows:(8)∠ADO=arccosLAD2+LOD2−LOA22×LAD×LOD,∠BDC=360°−∠ODC−∠ADB−∠ADO,LBC2=LCD2+LBD2−2×LCD×LBD×cos∠BDC.It can be seen from the above conditions thatΔBCEandΔBCE′ are fully solved. Thus, the following results are available:(9)∠BCE=arccosLBC2+LCE2−LBE22×LBC×LCE,∠BCE″=arccosLBC2+LCE″2−LBE″22×LBC×LCE″,θ=∠BCE″−∠BCE.The vertical distance betweenF and F″ HFF″⊥ can be expressed as(10)HFF″⊥=LCF″sinθ+λ−LCFsinλ.The component dimensions are measured based on the model data established in SolidWorks. The known data in the motion diagram are shown in Table2.Table 2
Initial parameters of the luffing wheel-leg.
Parameter
Unit
Value
L
OA
Mm
420
L
OA′
Mm
320
L
BE = LB′E′
Mm
370
L
BE′′
Mm
520
L
OD
Mm
320
L
AD = LBD = LA′D = LB′D
Mm
276
L
CD
Mm
115
/
cos
54
°
L
CE = LCE′
Mm
534
L
CF = LCF′ = LCF′′
Mm
750
∠
O
D
C
°
36°
∠
C
D
G
°
54°
λ
°
4.15°According to the above formula and the data in the table, the rising height of the WLLS during the lifting process and the descending height during the descending process can be calculated. Due to the uncoupled movement of the hydraulic cylinder in the WLLS, the lifting hydraulic cylinder works during the lifting process, and the length of the descending hydraulic cylinder does not change. During the descent process, only the descending hydraulic cylinder works, and the length of the lift hydraulic cylinder does not change. Therefore, the vertical displacement of the centroid of the wheel-leg during lifting is 187.6 mm, and the vertical displacement of the centroid of the wheel-leg is 244.4 mm during the descending process.


### 3.3. Climbing Strategy

According to the above analysis, the range of variation in the wheel-leg can be obtained. When the end of the wheel-leg is raised to the highest position and the end is extended to the longest position, the plane inclination of the working platform is reduced. This dip angle reduction will benefit the working platform during the climbing process and enhance the smoothness of the platform during the climbing process [27].As shown in Figure10, the WLLS is attached to the test bench. The test bench is a simple frame formed by aluminum profiles. The height of the frame is consistent with the natural droop height of the WLLS. The structure shown in the figure is used for analysis of the climbing motion. When the end of the wheel-leg is raised to the highest position and the end is extended to the longest position, by calculating the data, the slope inclination can be reduced by 12.08°. The reduced angle of inclination helps the work platform to remain stable while climbing. This means that the slope of the platform inclination will reduce 12.08° when the chassis equipped with the WLLS is used for climbing work. When climbing a slope within 12.08°, the platform can always be level on the level, ensuring stable platform climbing.Figure 10
Sketch of climbing: (a) normal walking; (b) climbing process.
(a)
(b)


## 3.1. Turning Radius Design

Considering the actual working environment and size of the chassis, the intermediate hinged connection uses a folding waist. Waist turning has the advantages of a small turning radius, smooth movement, and simple operation. Compared with traditional deflection wheel steering, the structure is simple, and the turning radius is small [31–33].As shown in Figures5 and 6, the vehicle model consists of an independently designed chassis size. M1 is the distance between the front wheels. M2 is the distance between the rear wheels. S is the distance between the front and rear wheels of the rear frame. L1 is the distance between the hinge point and the front wheel axle. L2 is the distance between the hinge point and the rear wheel axle. θ is the steering angle. δ means the deflection angle between two wheels. The turning radius of each wheel is as follows:(1)R1=M12+L1sinθcosθ+L2sinθ−L1tanθ.Figure 5
Sketch of waist steering radius.Figure 6
Sketch of single-axis steering radius.R
1 represents the turning radius of the front wheel:(2)R3=M22+L1sinθ+L2tanθ.R
3 represents the turning radius of the rear wheel:(3)R2=R32+S2.R
2 represents the turning radius of the middle wheel.R′, ordinary three-axle car single-axis steering radius, is as follows:(4)R′=L1+L2+S2/4L1+L2sinθ−δ.According to the data in Table1, the waist turning radius and the normal deflection wheel steering radius are calculated. A data comparison showed that the waist turning radius can be reduced by 15%. The formula for calculating the steering radius in the waist turning radius is a monotonically decreasing function. Therefore, as the turning angle of the waist is further increased, the turning radius of the waist will be further reduced, and the obstacle passing performance will improve. In addition, the steering angle of the waist steering can continue to increase within the range allowed by the structural conditions.Table 1
Initial parameters of the chassis.
Parameter
Unit
Value
M
1
mm
660
M
2
mm
750
S
mm
1960
L
1
mm
765
L
2
mm
2295
θ
°
45
δ
°
5In the concept design of the whole vehicle, the 3DOFS is responsible for adjusting the turning radius. Within the range allowed by the structural conditions, the larger steering angle makes the smaller steering radius. Steering angle adjustment is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder. Steering angle adjustment is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder. Therefore, the hydraulic cylinder with a suitable structural size is selected to make the steering radius not less than 45°.As shown in Figure7, La indicates the length of the steering front baffle, Lb represents the length of the steering rear baffle, Lc means the length of the upper and lower covers, and D1 is the diameter of the second-degree-of-freedom pin. By selecting the stroke of the hydraulic cylinder 350 mm, the hydraulic cylinder length varies between 570 and 920 mm. When the hydraulic cylinder at one end contracts to the shortest position, the maximum steering angle is reached. By analyzing the sketch of the 3DOFS in AUTOCAD software, it is found that the steering angle θ reaches 47°, which is greater than 45°, and the steering radius will be further reduced.Figure 7
Sketch of the three-degree-of-freedom structure: (a) right limit corner position; (b) normal position; (c) left limit corner position.
(a)
(b)
(c)


## 3.2. Wheel-Leg Motion Analysis

To analyze the basic motion of the variable amplitude wheel-legs, a simple mathematical model of the variable amplitude wheel-legs is needed. Two forms of motion of the wheel-leg, lifting and falling, are shown as Figures8 and 9. The lifting height and the falling height of the leg are calculated by simplifying the model.Figure 8
Sketch of wheel-leg lifting.Figure 9
Sketch of wheel-leg dropping.As shown in Figures8 and 9, due to the uncoupled movement of the lifting hydraulic cylinder and the descending hydraulic cylinder, during the lifting process, the lifting hydraulic cylinder is extended, the length of the descending hydraulic cylinder is constant, and wheel-leg lifting is realized. During the descent process, the descending hydraulic cylinder is extended, the length of the lifting hydraulic cylinder is constant, and the wheel-leg is lowered or the center of gravity of the chassis is raised. According to the plan model in the figure, the amount of displacement of the wheel-leg in the vertical direction can be calculated.During the lifting process, the centroid displacement of the wheel-leg is as follows:(5)∠ADO=arccosLAD2+LOD2−LOA22×LAD×LOD,∠A′DO=arccosLA′D2+LOD2−LOA′22×LA′D×LOD,∠BDC=360°−∠ODC−∠ADB−∠ADO,∠B′DC=360°−∠ODC−∠A′DB′−∠A′DO,LBC2=LCD2+LBD2−2×LCD×LBD×cos∠BDC,LB′C2=LCD2+LB′D2−2×LCD×LB′D×cos∠B′DC.It can be seen from the above conditions thatΔBCE,ΔB′CE′,ΔBCD,andΔB′CD are fully solved. Thus, the following results are available:(6)∠BCE=arccosLBC2+LCE2−LBE22×LBC×LCE,∠B′CE′=arccosLB′C2+LCE′2−LB′E′22×LB′C×LCE′,∠BCD=arccosLBC2+LCD2−LBD22×LBC×LCD,∠B′CD=arccosLB′C2+LCD2−LB′D22×LB′C×LCD,α=∠BCD+∠B′CD,θ=∠BCE−∠B′CE′+α.The vertical distance betweenF and F′’ HFF′⊥ can be expressed as(7)HFF′⊥=LCF′sinθ−λ+LCFsinλ.During the dropping process, the centroid displacement of the wheel-leg is as follows:(8)∠ADO=arccosLAD2+LOD2−LOA22×LAD×LOD,∠BDC=360°−∠ODC−∠ADB−∠ADO,LBC2=LCD2+LBD2−2×LCD×LBD×cos∠BDC.It can be seen from the above conditions thatΔBCEandΔBCE′ are fully solved. Thus, the following results are available:(9)∠BCE=arccosLBC2+LCE2−LBE22×LBC×LCE,∠BCE″=arccosLBC2+LCE″2−LBE″22×LBC×LCE″,θ=∠BCE″−∠BCE.The vertical distance betweenF and F″ HFF″⊥ can be expressed as(10)HFF″⊥=LCF″sinθ+λ−LCFsinλ.The component dimensions are measured based on the model data established in SolidWorks. The known data in the motion diagram are shown in Table2.Table 2
Initial parameters of the luffing wheel-leg.
Parameter
Unit
Value
L
OA
Mm
420
L
OA′
Mm
320
L
BE = LB′E′
Mm
370
L
BE′′
Mm
520
L
OD
Mm
320
L
AD = LBD = LA′D = LB′D
Mm
276
L
CD
Mm
115
/
cos
54
°
L
CE = LCE′
Mm
534
L
CF = LCF′ = LCF′′
Mm
750
∠
O
D
C
°
36°
∠
C
D
G
°
54°
λ
°
4.15°According to the above formula and the data in the table, the rising height of the WLLS during the lifting process and the descending height during the descending process can be calculated. Due to the uncoupled movement of the hydraulic cylinder in the WLLS, the lifting hydraulic cylinder works during the lifting process, and the length of the descending hydraulic cylinder does not change. During the descent process, only the descending hydraulic cylinder works, and the length of the lift hydraulic cylinder does not change. Therefore, the vertical displacement of the centroid of the wheel-leg during lifting is 187.6 mm, and the vertical displacement of the centroid of the wheel-leg is 244.4 mm during the descending process.


## 3.3. Climbing Strategy

According to the above analysis, the range of variation in the wheel-leg can be obtained. When the end of the wheel-leg is raised to the highest position and the end is extended to the longest position, the plane inclination of the working platform is reduced. This dip angle reduction will benefit the working platform during the climbing process and enhance the smoothness of the platform during the climbing process [27].As shown in Figure10, the WLLS is attached to the test bench. The test bench is a simple frame formed by aluminum profiles. The height of the frame is consistent with the natural droop height of the WLLS. The structure shown in the figure is used for analysis of the climbing motion. When the end of the wheel-leg is raised to the highest position and the end is extended to the longest position, by calculating the data, the slope inclination can be reduced by 12.08°. The reduced angle of inclination helps the work platform to remain stable while climbing. This means that the slope of the platform inclination will reduce 12.08° when the chassis equipped with the WLLS is used for climbing work. When climbing a slope within 12.08°, the platform can always be level on the level, ensuring stable platform climbing.Figure 10
Sketch of climbing: (a) normal walking; (b) climbing process.
(a)
(b)


## 4. Establishment of the Simulation

To verify the validity and functionality of the 3DOFS and the WLLS, a virtual prototype of the corresponding structure was established in SolidWorks, simulation was carried out in ADAMS, and the corresponding multibody dynamics analysis was constructed [34, 35].The simulation process mainly includes the single-degree-of-freedom motion, two-two mixed motion, and three-degree-of-freedom motion (3DOFS) of the lifting height, the inclination of the climbing slope, the double-wheel obstacle, and the one-sided obstacle of the WLLS.


### 4.1. Mechanical Analysis during Structure Operation

During the operation of the 3DOFS, the structural force analysis by ANSYS is shown in Figure11. The force A represents natural gravity. Torque B means the torque experienced by the first pin, mainly from the torque generated by the gravity of the front frame. Torque C is the torque experienced by the second pin, mainly from the torque under the action of the hydraulic cylinder. Torque D is the torque received by the third pin, mainly from the torque formed by the rear frame’s deflection due to gravity. Forces E and F are the pulling and pushing forces provided by the hydraulic cylinder. Under the effect of all the above forces, the 3DOFS completes the deflection in three directions of freedom.Figure 11
Force analysis during the three-degree-of-freedom structure operation.The WLLS force analysis by ANSYS is shown in Figure12. The force A represents natural gravity. Force G means the pulling force provided by the lowering hydraulic cylinder. Force H is the pulling force provided by the lifting cylinder. Force I is the supporting reaction force provided by the frame. Torque J is the torque provided by the hydraulic motor. Under the effect of all the above forces, the WLLS completes the movements such as driving and wheel-leg lifting.Figure 12
Force analysis during the wheel-leg structure operation.


### 4.2. The Simulation of Three-Degree-of-Freedom Structure Motion

The virtual 3D model of the 3DOFS is established in SolidWorks and is imported into ADAMS that is applied in multibody dynamics simulation. In order to verify the motion characteristics of 3DOFS, the motion devices are set to be connected through moving joints and cylindrical joints. The power is driven by the motor to add torque. Set a basic gravity of 9.8 m/s2. The exercise time is set to 10 s, and the number of steps is set to 500. The basic parameters are shown in Table 3.Table 3
Basic parameters of the three-degree-of-freedom structure in simulation.
Parameter
Unit
Value
Length
mm
1092
Width
mm
490
Height
mm
230
Mass
kg
89
TorqueB
N/m
236
TorqueC
N/m
218
TorqueD
N/m
580
ForceE = force F
N
700To verify the steering characteristics of the first degree of freedom and to keep the other components fixed, a torque is applied to the first steering shaft. As shown in Figure13, the blue position represents the position at which the first degree of freedom is stable. The yellow position represents the upper extreme position on the first degree of freedom with a limit angle of 30°. The red position represents the lower limit position at the first degree of freedom with a limit angle of 15°.Figure 13
Simulation of the first degree of freedom.In order to verify the steering characteristics of the second degree of freedom and to keep the other components fixed, a force is applied to the steering hydraulic cylinder and a torque is applied to the second steering shaft. It can be known from Figure14 that the right limit position steering angle is 47°. The left limit position steering angle is also 47°. Steering angle requirements are achieved on both sides.Figure 14
Simulation of the second degree of freedom: (a) second-degree-of-freedom right limit position; (b) stable state; (c) second-degree-of-freedom left limit position.
(a)
(b)
(c)To verify the steering characteristics of the third degree of freedom and to keep the other components fixed, a torque is applied to the third steering shaft. As shown in Figure15, the blue position represents the position at which the third degree of freedom is stable. The yellow position represents the left extreme position on the third degree of freedom with a limit angle of 30°. The red position represents the right limit position at the third degree of freedom with a limit angle of 30°.Figure 15
Simulation of the third degree of freedom.It is verified that the three-degrees-of-freedom work at the same time and maintain the corresponding working conditions, and the corresponding force is applied. After the dynamic simulation, the 3DOFS can work cooperatively or independently because the degrees of freedom are independent (Figure16).Figure 16
Simulation of the three-degree-of-freedom: (a) stable state; (b) three-degree-of-freedom limit position one; (c) three-degree-of-freedom limit position two.
(a)
(b)
(c)


### 4.3. The Simulation of Wheel-Leg Structure Motion

The virtual 3D model of the WLLS is established in SolidWorks. It is imported into ADAMS and applied in multibody dynamics simulation. The basic parameters are shown in Table4. Tires of chassis are based on the Fiala model, and parameters are shown in Table 5. In simulation process, the initial velocity of WLLS is 2 m/s. In addition, a 170 mm obstacle is built in ADAMS. Set a basic gravity of 9.8 m/s2. The static and rolling friction coefficients are set. According to the relative size, the simulation time is 15 s, and the number of steps is 2000.Table 4
Basic parameters of the wheel-leg structure in simulation.
Parameter
Unit
Value
Length
mm
1644
Width
mm
1285
Mass
kg
246
Engine rated power
kW
8.5
Static friction coefficient
0.3
Rolling resistance coefficient
0.025
ForceG
N
352
ForceH
N
876
ForceI
N
964
TorqueJ
N/m
50.4Table 5
Basic parameters of the tires.
Parameter
Unit
Value
Wheel diameter
Mm
357
Wheel width
Mm
160
Vertical stiffness
N/mm
310
Vertical damping
N/(mm/s)
3.1
CSLIP
N/mm
1000
CALPHA
N/rad
800
CGAMMA
N/mm
300To verify the lifting and lowering functionality of the WLLS, the wheel-legs are fixed on a work platform. The functionality of the WLLS is verified by the lifting and lowering of the hydraulic cylinder. As shown in Figure17, by applying a displacement of 100 mm to the lifting cylinder and a displacement of 150 mm to the descending cylinder, it is verified that the slope inclination decreases 12.3°.Figure 17
Simulation of the climbing slope process: (a) stable state; (b) wheel-leg structure climbing slope limit inclination position.
(a)
(b)The two-wheeled obstacle form of the WLLS is checked. It can be seen from Figure18 that the working platform first runs smoothly on the horizontal surface. When the structure is about to collide with the obstacle, the lifting hydraulic cylinder activates, and the WLLS rises and crosses the obstacle. Then, the lifting hydraulic cylinder descends to reach the obstacle height, and the working platform moves on top of the obstacle. When leaving the obstacle, the lifting hydraulic cylinder returns to its original position, the wheel-legs fall, the platform continues to run stably, and the two-wheeled obstacle crossing process is completed.Figure 18
Simulation of two-wheeled obstacle: (a) smooth running during the two-wheeled obstacle; (b) wheel-legs lifting at the two-wheeled obstacle; (c) wheel-legs driving on the two-wheeled obstacle; (d) wheel-legs dropping in front of the two-wheeled obstacle; (e) smooth running after the two-wheeled obstacle is passed.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)The one-sided obstacle pattern is detected. The overall process of the one-sided obstacle pattern of the WLLS can be seen in Figure19. The working platform runs smoothly on the horizontal surface, and the front WLLS rises when it encounters an obstacle, falls when it crosses the obstacle, and runs stably on the obstacle. After that, the rear wheel-leg rises when encountering an obstacle and falls to the obstacle height when crossing the obstacle, and the two legs simultaneously run stably on the obstacle. Then, as the obstacle is crossed, the front wheel-leg falls to the normal height, and then the rear wheel-leg falls to the normal height. The one-sided obstacle crossing process is completed, and the working platform is stable.Figure 19
Simulation of one-sided obstacle: (a) smooth running during the one-sided obstacle; (b) front wheel-legs lifting process during the one-sided obstacle; (c) rear wheel-legs lifting process during the one-sided obstacle; (d) wheel-legs driving on the obstacle process during the one-sided obstacle; (e) front wheel-legs dropping process during the one-sided obstacle; (f) rear wheel-legs dropping process during the one-sided obstacle; (g) smooth running after the one-sided obstacle.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)


## 4.1. Mechanical Analysis during Structure Operation

During the operation of the 3DOFS, the structural force analysis by ANSYS is shown in Figure11. The force A represents natural gravity. Torque B means the torque experienced by the first pin, mainly from the torque generated by the gravity of the front frame. Torque C is the torque experienced by the second pin, mainly from the torque under the action of the hydraulic cylinder. Torque D is the torque received by the third pin, mainly from the torque formed by the rear frame’s deflection due to gravity. Forces E and F are the pulling and pushing forces provided by the hydraulic cylinder. Under the effect of all the above forces, the 3DOFS completes the deflection in three directions of freedom.Figure 11
Force analysis during the three-degree-of-freedom structure operation.The WLLS force analysis by ANSYS is shown in Figure12. The force A represents natural gravity. Force G means the pulling force provided by the lowering hydraulic cylinder. Force H is the pulling force provided by the lifting cylinder. Force I is the supporting reaction force provided by the frame. Torque J is the torque provided by the hydraulic motor. Under the effect of all the above forces, the WLLS completes the movements such as driving and wheel-leg lifting.Figure 12
Force analysis during the wheel-leg structure operation.


## 4.2. The Simulation of Three-Degree-of-Freedom Structure Motion

The virtual 3D model of the 3DOFS is established in SolidWorks and is imported into ADAMS that is applied in multibody dynamics simulation. In order to verify the motion characteristics of 3DOFS, the motion devices are set to be connected through moving joints and cylindrical joints. The power is driven by the motor to add torque. Set a basic gravity of 9.8 m/s2. The exercise time is set to 10 s, and the number of steps is set to 500. The basic parameters are shown in Table 3.Table 3
Basic parameters of the three-degree-of-freedom structure in simulation.
Parameter
Unit
Value
Length
mm
1092
Width
mm
490
Height
mm
230
Mass
kg
89
TorqueB
N/m
236
TorqueC
N/m
218
TorqueD
N/m
580
ForceE = force F
N
700To verify the steering characteristics of the first degree of freedom and to keep the other components fixed, a torque is applied to the first steering shaft. As shown in Figure13, the blue position represents the position at which the first degree of freedom is stable. The yellow position represents the upper extreme position on the first degree of freedom with a limit angle of 30°. The red position represents the lower limit position at the first degree of freedom with a limit angle of 15°.Figure 13
Simulation of the first degree of freedom.In order to verify the steering characteristics of the second degree of freedom and to keep the other components fixed, a force is applied to the steering hydraulic cylinder and a torque is applied to the second steering shaft. It can be known from Figure14 that the right limit position steering angle is 47°. The left limit position steering angle is also 47°. Steering angle requirements are achieved on both sides.Figure 14
Simulation of the second degree of freedom: (a) second-degree-of-freedom right limit position; (b) stable state; (c) second-degree-of-freedom left limit position.
(a)
(b)
(c)To verify the steering characteristics of the third degree of freedom and to keep the other components fixed, a torque is applied to the third steering shaft. As shown in Figure15, the blue position represents the position at which the third degree of freedom is stable. The yellow position represents the left extreme position on the third degree of freedom with a limit angle of 30°. The red position represents the right limit position at the third degree of freedom with a limit angle of 30°.Figure 15
Simulation of the third degree of freedom.It is verified that the three-degrees-of-freedom work at the same time and maintain the corresponding working conditions, and the corresponding force is applied. After the dynamic simulation, the 3DOFS can work cooperatively or independently because the degrees of freedom are independent (Figure16).Figure 16
Simulation of the three-degree-of-freedom: (a) stable state; (b) three-degree-of-freedom limit position one; (c) three-degree-of-freedom limit position two.
(a)
(b)
(c)


## 4.3. The Simulation of Wheel-Leg Structure Motion

The virtual 3D model of the WLLS is established in SolidWorks. It is imported into ADAMS and applied in multibody dynamics simulation. The basic parameters are shown in Table4. Tires of chassis are based on the Fiala model, and parameters are shown in Table 5. In simulation process, the initial velocity of WLLS is 2 m/s. In addition, a 170 mm obstacle is built in ADAMS. Set a basic gravity of 9.8 m/s2. The static and rolling friction coefficients are set. According to the relative size, the simulation time is 15 s, and the number of steps is 2000.Table 4
Basic parameters of the wheel-leg structure in simulation.
Parameter
Unit
Value
Length
mm
1644
Width
mm
1285
Mass
kg
246
Engine rated power
kW
8.5
Static friction coefficient
0.3
Rolling resistance coefficient
0.025
ForceG
N
352
ForceH
N
876
ForceI
N
964
TorqueJ
N/m
50.4Table 5
Basic parameters of the tires.
Parameter
Unit
Value
Wheel diameter
Mm
357
Wheel width
Mm
160
Vertical stiffness
N/mm
310
Vertical damping
N/(mm/s)
3.1
CSLIP
N/mm
1000
CALPHA
N/rad
800
CGAMMA
N/mm
300To verify the lifting and lowering functionality of the WLLS, the wheel-legs are fixed on a work platform. The functionality of the WLLS is verified by the lifting and lowering of the hydraulic cylinder. As shown in Figure17, by applying a displacement of 100 mm to the lifting cylinder and a displacement of 150 mm to the descending cylinder, it is verified that the slope inclination decreases 12.3°.Figure 17
Simulation of the climbing slope process: (a) stable state; (b) wheel-leg structure climbing slope limit inclination position.
(a)
(b)The two-wheeled obstacle form of the WLLS is checked. It can be seen from Figure18 that the working platform first runs smoothly on the horizontal surface. When the structure is about to collide with the obstacle, the lifting hydraulic cylinder activates, and the WLLS rises and crosses the obstacle. Then, the lifting hydraulic cylinder descends to reach the obstacle height, and the working platform moves on top of the obstacle. When leaving the obstacle, the lifting hydraulic cylinder returns to its original position, the wheel-legs fall, the platform continues to run stably, and the two-wheeled obstacle crossing process is completed.Figure 18
Simulation of two-wheeled obstacle: (a) smooth running during the two-wheeled obstacle; (b) wheel-legs lifting at the two-wheeled obstacle; (c) wheel-legs driving on the two-wheeled obstacle; (d) wheel-legs dropping in front of the two-wheeled obstacle; (e) smooth running after the two-wheeled obstacle is passed.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)The one-sided obstacle pattern is detected. The overall process of the one-sided obstacle pattern of the WLLS can be seen in Figure19. The working platform runs smoothly on the horizontal surface, and the front WLLS rises when it encounters an obstacle, falls when it crosses the obstacle, and runs stably on the obstacle. After that, the rear wheel-leg rises when encountering an obstacle and falls to the obstacle height when crossing the obstacle, and the two legs simultaneously run stably on the obstacle. Then, as the obstacle is crossed, the front wheel-leg falls to the normal height, and then the rear wheel-leg falls to the normal height. The one-sided obstacle crossing process is completed, and the working platform is stable.Figure 19
Simulation of one-sided obstacle: (a) smooth running during the one-sided obstacle; (b) front wheel-legs lifting process during the one-sided obstacle; (c) rear wheel-legs lifting process during the one-sided obstacle; (d) wheel-legs driving on the obstacle process during the one-sided obstacle; (e) front wheel-legs dropping process during the one-sided obstacle; (f) rear wheel-legs dropping process during the one-sided obstacle; (g) smooth running after the one-sided obstacle.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)


## 5. Discussion of the Simulation Results

The dynamics simulations of the 3DOFS and the WLLS were carried out, and the corresponding results were obtained. The structural functionality was verified. The 3DOFS can realize angular deflection and independent movement in all three directions, and the WLLS can reach the design lifting height and match the theoretical model. Functional verification of critical components is achieved by applying corresponding force and displacement conditions throughout the process.Figure20 records the rotation angles of the three-degree-of-freedom structure in three directions while moving simultaneously. It can be seen from the figure that the limit degree of the first-degree-of-freedom motion is 45°, which is consistent with the principle of first-degree-of-freedom design. The second-degree-of-freedom motion angle, that is, the steering radius angle, reaches 47.1°, which is consistent with the theoretical model. The breakpoint in the figure refers to the invalid data point after the hydraulic cylinder reaches the shortest end and is not included in the steering radius. The third-degree-of-freedom motion angle reaches a maximum of 30° and a minimum of −30°, which is in line with the third-degree-of-freedom design principle.Figure 20
Three-degree-of-freedom rotation angle.The simulation results are obtained by applying a prescribed stroke to the lifting hydraulic cylinder and the descending hydraulic cylinder. Figure21 shows that when the lifting hydraulic cylinder is working, the lifting height of the WLLS is 187 mm, and when the descending hydraulic cylinder is working, the falling height of the WLLS is 244 mm. The simulation results are consistent with the theoretical model and meet the design requirements.Figure 21
Centroid lifting height change during wheel-leg structure motion.Figure22 shows that the reduction in the inclination of the platform slope can be achieved by the lifting of the lifting cylinder and the lowering of the hydraulic cylinder, which can be reduced by 12.3°, which is in accordance with the theoretical model. The reduction in the platform slope allows the chassis to maintain the smoothness of the working platform within 12.3° during the climbing process, which is beneficial to the passage of the chassis.Figure 22
Platform inclination change during wheel-leg structure motion.It can be seen from Figure23 that, during the two-wheeled obstacle crossing process, the centroid displacement of the wheel-leg is basically consistent with the data determined in the theoretical model, and the error is within 0.5 mm. The leg-raising process is completed in 1 s and reaches a maximum height of 187.67 mm, and then the legs fall back to the normal obstacle height of 170 mm and run stably. When the obstacle crossing process is completed, the wheel-legs fall back to the initial position, and the lifting and falling process is completed in 1 s. It is proven that the WLLS can use two wheels simultaneously to overcome obstacles of 170 mm.Figure 23
Displacement diagram of tire structure centroid during double-wheel crossing.As shown in Figure24, the relationship between the motions of the two legs during one-sided obstacle crossing can be determined. The front wheel-legs first rise to a maximum height of 187.67 mm and then fall back to the obstacle height of 170 mm; the whole process is completed in 1 s. When the rear wheel-legs is over the obstacle, it rises to a maximum height of 187.31 mm and then falls back to the obstacle height of 170 mm. Due to the error of the installation position of the hydraulic cylinder in the WLLS, the limit position of the two wheel-legs has an error within 0.5 mm. Through verification, the WLLS has the ability to overcome 170 mm during one-sided obstacle crossing.Figure 24
Displacement diagram of tire structure centroid during one-sided obstacle crossing.


## 6. Experiments

To verify the feasibility and functionality of the mechanical structure, the mechanical structure was drawn into CAD drawings to machining. According to the simulation environment, the corresponding experiment process is established:(1)
The 3DOFS is shown in Figure25. This structure is placed on the ground and powered by a hydraulic station to verify the steering performance. Through the movement of the hydraulic cylinders, when the length of the left hydraulic cylinder reaches 570 mm, the steering angle to the left reaches the maximum in the left turn process. The steering angle to the right reaches the maximum when the length of the right hydraulic cylinder reaches 570 mm. After several movements and measuring, the maximum steering angles at both ends were 47°.(2)
The two-wheeled obstacle process of the WLLS is shown in Figure26. The WLLS was fixed to both ends of the designed test platform. Set the rotation speed of the hydraulic motor to 200 rpm. The lifting of four hydraulic cylinders and the rotation speed of two hydraulic motors are controlled by a six-way servo valve. Set the test two-wheeled obstacle height to 170 mm. The verification through the test process is consistent with the simulation process. The WLLS can well overcome the 170 mm two-wheeled obstacle. By adjusting the stroke of the hydraulic cylinder, it can further overcome the higher obstacle.(3)
As shown in Figure27, the WLLS was fixed to one side of the designed test platform. To balance the weight, a weight block was added on the other side of the test platform. During operation, the weight block can ensure the stability of the test platform and prevent it from tipping over. Also, set the hydraulic motor rotation speed to 200 rpm. Set the test one-sided obstacle height to 170 mm. Power is provided by a hydraulic station to move the overall frame. The verification through the test process is consistent with the simulation process. The WLLS can well overcome the 170 mm one-sided obstacle.Figure 25
Steering performance of the three-degree-of-freedom structure: (a) left limit corner position; (b) normal position; (c) right limit corner position.
(a)
(b)
(c)Figure 26
Obstacle crossing performance of two-wheeled obstacle: (a) normal driving; (b) wheel-legs lifting process; (c) wheel-legs driving on the two-wheeled obstacle; (d) wheel-legs dropping process; (e) smooth driving after the obstacle.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)Figure 27
Obstacle crossing performance of one-sided obstacle: (a) smooth running; (b) wheel-legs lifting process; (c) wheel-legs driving on the obstacle; (d) wheel-legs dropping process; (e) normal driving after obstacle.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)Through the actual verification of the simulation process, the 3DOFS and WLLS can realize the functions of steering and obstacle crossing. The experimental results show that the key components can achieve stable motion, which proves the feasibility of the design.


## 7. Conclusion

(1)
The steering and lifting mechanism of a forestry vehicle chassis was designed, and the size, structure, and steering radius of the 3DOFS were determined. The size, structure, and motion model of the WLLS are determined, and the slope inclination of the platform when the WLLS is working is determined.
(2)
ADAMS was used to simulate the motion of the 3DOFS, including the motion of a single degree of freedom, the motion of two degrees of freedom, and the motion of three degrees of freedom. The first-degree-of-freedom movement angle is 45°, the second-degree-of-freedom movement angle is 47°, and the third-degree-of-freedom movement angle is 60°. The three-degree-of-freedom movements are independent of each other. The movement of the wheel and leg structure is analyzed. The lifting height of the wheel-leg is up to 187 mm, and the height of the centroid lifting is up to 244 mm. In the extreme position, the inclination of the platform is reduced by 12.3°. During both the two-wheeled obstacle and the one-sided obstacle tests, the structure stably climbed over 170 mm obstacles.
(3)
The functionality and achievability of the key components are determined. The theoretical model of the component is verified, ensuring that the key components designed can achieve the corresponding functions and that the corresponding performance can also be achieved. The experimental results show that the key components can achieve stable movement, which proves the feasibility of the design.
(4)
The steering and lifting mechanisms are mainly applied to the forestry operations chassis. The steering mechanism can be used as an intermediate hinge structure for connecting a chassis having a towing property. The lifting structure can be used as a self-leveling structure to improve the road surface profile and obstacle stability. In the future forest operations, it must be mechanized operations and production to replace human activities. The forestry obstacle chassis with the steering and lifting mechanism will become the main loading platform for carrying equipment to work.



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*Source: 5971746-2020-03-12.xml*