Research into drive system of EOD/IED robot

Navigating vehicles over difficult terrain requires a drive system ensuring high mobility. It is particularly important in the case of unmanned ground vehicles. It is often not realized that a vehicle occupant frequently plays the role of a multi sensor, highly effective data processor and a control system at the same time. Due to this, the abilities of an unmanned vehicle's drive system should, to the greatest possible extent, compensate for the lack of an inside operator. To achieve this, it has to ensure high precision and ease of controlling. Such possibilities are provided by electric and hydrostatic systems. At the Military University of Technology, Chair of Engineering Equipment, a test platform for an EOD/IED robot was developed. Due to its considerable weight, it was equipped with a hydrostatic drive system. The vehicle has a sixwheeled chassis and a skid steering system. The paper presents initial findings of the research aimed at determining the influence of the applied hydraulic system solution on the appearance of kinematic incompatibilities. The presented experimental research included the identification of internal resistance as well as tests on three types of surfaces.