To enhance the adaptability of land-air robots in confined and complex environments, a reconfigurable robot capable of switching among flying, rolling, and crawling locomotion modes was designed, and its performance was investigated through theoretical and experimental analyses. First, an active linkage folding mechanism and a passive planetary gear-based clawed wheel were collaboratively designed to enable rapid and stable mode transitions while ensuring propeller protection and terrain adaptability. Subsequently, the transformation process was theoretically analyzed based on mechanical and kinematic modeling to identify key parameters affecting stability and obstacle-crossing capability. Finally, a prototype was developed, and multimodal transformation and obstacle-crossing experiments were conducted. The experimental results demonstrate that flexible mode switching, robust obstacle-surmounting capability, and environmental adaptability are achieved, thereby verifying the rationality of the structural design and the feasibility of multimodal locomotion.
CHANG Qing, WANG Ling-yu, ZHAO Xiang-yun, CHEN Xi.
Design and Experimental Analysis of a Land-air Reconfigurable Robot[J].
Science Technology and Engineering, 2026, 26(8): 3172-3180 DOI:10.12404/j.issn.1671-1815.2506261
LiuYang, WangKaisong, TangWei, et al. Design and implementation of foldable winged amphibious UAV[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2024, 60(2): 272-286.
ZhuXiming, NiHengxin, ZhaoJianpeng, et al. 3D path planning for mobile robots based on improved grey wolf algorithm[J]. Science Technology and Engineering, 2025, 25(3): 1125-1132.
ZhangXinze, XiaoHaijian, LiuXinglong, et al. Design and implementation of a new type of conduit fan water-air amphibious UAV[J]. Acta Armamentarii, 2025, 46(1): 231-237.
LuoZhewen, LiuZhi, FanJizhuang. Geometric localization method for a mobile robot in special underwater environment[J]. Science Technology and Engineering, 2025, 25(17): 7238-7243.
[9]
ZhengZ, CaiQ, WangJ, et al. CapsuleBot: a novel hybrid aerial-ground bi-copter robot with wwo actuated-wheel-rotors[J]. IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, 2025, 10(1): 120-127.
[10]
PanN, JiangJ, ZhangR, et al. Skywalker: a compact and agile air-ground omnidirectional vehicle[J]. IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, 2023, 8(5): 2534-2541.
[11]
JiaH, BaiS, DingR, et al. A quadrotor with a passively reconfigurable airframe for hybrid terrestrial locomotion[J]. IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, 2022, 27(6): 4741-4751.
[12]
ZhangD, XuM, ZhuP, et al. The development of a novel terrestrial/aerial robot: autonomous quadrotor tilting hybrid robot[J]. Robotica, 2024, 42(1): 118-138.
[13]
ChangQ, ZhaoX, RenH, et al. A compact reconfigurable terrestrial-aerial robot with foldable mechanisms for rolling, crawling, and flying[J]. IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, 2025, 10(8):8459-8466.
DavidN B, ZarroukD. Design and analysis of FCSTAR, a hybrid flying and climbing sprawl tuned robot[J]. IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, 2021, 6(4): 6188-6195.
[19]
GaoJ, JinH, GaoL, et al. A multimode two-wheel-legged land-air locomotion robot and its cooperative control[J]. IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, 2024, 29(4): 2557-2568.
[20]
ShiK, JiangZ N, MaL Y, et al. MTABot: an efficient morphable terrestrial-aerial robot with two transformable wheels[J]. IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, 2024, 9(2): 1875-1882.
[21]
肖朕. 陆空两栖机器人未知环境下自主探索算法研究[D]. 南京: 南京理工大学, 2023.
[22]
XiaoZhen. Research on autonomous exploration algorithms for amphibious robots in unknown environments[D]. Nanjing: Nanjing University of Science and Technology, 2023.