XXooptRobotics

Designing the FBD and EOM for a friction-driven robot wheel

mediumsubjectivesystem design

General

A driven wheel of mass mm, radius rr, and moment of inertia II about its center rolls without slipping on flat ground. A motor applies torque τ\tau at the axle, and the wheel accelerates the robot forward. (a) Draw/describe the free-body diagram and explain which forces and torques act on the wheel. (b) Derive the relationship between the applied torque τ\tau and the wheel's linear acceleration aa, clearly stating the rolling-without-slipping constraint. (c) Explain the physical role of static friction here and what happens if the required friction exceeds μsN\mu_s N.