Design of a High Mobile Micro Rover within a Dual Rover Configuration for Autonomous Operations

The importance for small and lightweight rovers providing high mobility and versatility in future exploration missions is increasing. Within this paper the terrestrial test platform Coyote II is presented. The rover is equipped with a novel locomotion concept combining hybrid legged-wheels with spherical helical wheels. This allows to perform side-to-side steering movements and yields high mobility performance in rough terrain as well as on soft soils as shown during various laboratory and real environment tests. The rover is specially designed to act as a scout rover paired up with a primary rover for autonomous long term exploration. The operational concept for the scout rover within the two rover team is addressed with respect to the primary rover.