Abstract
To analyze the turning characteristics of a large-scale skid-steered unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), a mathematical model based on geometric characteristics and kinematics was developed in this work. The turning characteristics, as well as some important geometric and moving features, were seriously considered in the model. A self-designed UGV was employed to conduct targeted experiments. Initial experiment showed that the width of UGV was much larger than that of actual value, because slippage phenomenon made the errors of actual velocity and trajectory length between two sides of the UGV were lower than those obtained from direct wheel velocities measurements and calculations. Further experiments which obtained moving velocity of the UAV by means of a highly accurate Inertial Navigation System (INS) were conducted. Combining this velocity, the slippage levels of the four wheels can be quantitatively measured. In addition, using standard velocities derived from the accurate moving velocity, a true turning radius can be accurately calculated in real time when the slippage characteristics were seriously considered, hence, the mathematical model can be sufficiently validated. The work can realize modelling and dynamic analysis and estimation of the slippage characteristics of this type of UGV.