How Does a Rover Keep Its Wheels on the Ground Over Bumpy Rocks?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How does a rover keep its wheels on the ground over bumpy rocks?

The Big Idea

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.

Pivoting Arms

Step one: pivoting arms. On each side, the wheels are joined by arms that can pivot. A rocker works like a seesaw.

Climb a Rock

Step two: climb a rock. When one wheel goes up over a rock, the arms tilt and push the other wheels down. All the wheels keep touching the ground.

Body Stays Level

Step three: the body stays level. The main body of the rover stays almost level while the arms do the moving. This lets a rover climb rocks as tall as its wheels.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Picture a seesaw with a pivot in the middle. A wheel sits on each end. One wheel rolls up and over a rock. The body in the middle moves up only half as much.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! The name is rocker-bogie, and it needs no springs. Several Mars rovers have used this design. It lets rovers keep all six wheels on the ground. Roll toy wheels over books, with a grown-up nearby, to try it.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Draw a seesaw with a wheel on each end and a body in the middle. Show what happens when the left wheel goes up over a rock. Does the middle go up as far as the wheel? Check your drawing with a friend!

Outro

A rocker-bogie keeps a rover steady over rocks. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!