Analysis of Mechanical Structure in Mobile Robots

Robotics is a rapidly growing field that combines knowledge and skills from various areas, such as computer science, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and mathematics. These skills are used to create robots in different sectors, such as healthcare, manufacturing, and agriculture. This article underscores the interdisciplinary nature of robotics and its far-reaching impact, emphasizing the significance of structural design in addition to software algorithms by exploring the fundamental principles of designing mobile robots and how their mechanical structures could affect movement capabilities. Rather than focusing solely on specific structures, such as bio-inspired legged robots, the article aims to address this gap by examining several common principles of mobile robot motion and make comparisons between them horizontally to analyze the pros and cons of legged, wheeled, and inflatable biomimetic robots, elaborating on their unique characteristics and uses. The potential for hybridization and fusion of mechanical structures, exemplified by wheel-legged robots, has also been highlighted and discussed to propose future research directions in robot design and applications. In summary, this article will provide a comprehensive overview of the principles of mechanical structure in mobile robots, aiming to promote a deeper understanding of robot motion and inspire further innovation in the field.