Book 15, Question 115
How Does a Rover Keep Its Wheels on the Ground Over Bumpy Rocks?
Many rovers keep their wheels on bumpy rocks with a clever suspension called a rocker-bogie! Each side has wheels joined by pivoting arms. When one wheel goes up, the arms tilt so the other wheels stay down.
More fun facts
- Mars rovers use a rocker-bogie suspension to keep their wheels on the ground.
- It lets Perseverance drive over rocks or dips as big as its wheels, 52.5 centimeters across.
- Perseverance can drive over knee-high rocks up to 40 centimeters tall.
- One full turn of its wheels moves it 1.65 meters.
- Engineers made Perseverance's wheels tougher after sharp rocks wore down Curiosity's wheels.
- The treads on Curiosity's wheels are called grousers and help it climb rocks.
Sources: NASA Science, NASA, NASA
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