Drive and Steering Module with Vertical Suspension, and Mobile Robot or Vehicle Including the Same

Drive and Steering Module with Simplified Steering via Vertical Suspension and Coaxial Drive

This technology implements a vertical suspension structure by placing an elastic member and a guide member between the knuckle arm, which secures the wheel's rotation axis, and the steering link, which features a steering shaft. It is an independent drive and steering module technology where the drive shaft passes through the hollow steering shaft to transmit power to the wheel rotation axis via a bevel gear structure.

Conventional four-wheel drive systems face issues such as the complexity of individual motor control, intricate link structures, and high manufacturing costs due to the use of multiple drive motors. Furthermore, they have structural limitations where slippage between the wheels and the ground intensifies when the turning radius is small during steering.

This technology simplifies the drive and steering mechanism by interposing a vertical suspension between the steering link and the knuckle arm and adopting a coaxial structure where the drive shaft passes through the steering shaft. It supports the linear motion of the knuckle arm through a guide member composed of multiple joint pins and joint plates, and ensures steering and driving efficiency by transmitting power through a bevel gear structure.

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Key Features:

• Front left and right drive units provided on the front left and right sides of the main frame to receive driving and steering forces for front wheel propulsion and steering
• Rear left and right drive units provided on the rear left and right sides of the main frame to receive driving and steering forces for rear wheel propulsion and steering
• Vertical suspension provided in each of the front and rear drive units, featuring an elastic member and a guide member interposed between the knuckle arm and the steering link to provide wheel cushioning
• Drive shaft arranged to pass through the hollow steering shaft of the steering link, rotating on the same axis as the steering shaft and transmitting power to the rotation axis via a bevel gear structure

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