Drive Systems

Free-moving vehicles use various drive systems to ensure optimal performance and maneuverability. These drive systems have different advantages and disadvantages and can be combined into different powertrain to create different powertrain solutions. The decisive factors are different requirements for the vehicle's maneuverability in the area, as well as the available installation space.

Differential

A differential is a drive system consisting of 2 travel drives that provide the feed.

  • The direction of travel can be determined by the different direction of rotation and speeds of the individual wheels.
  • The travel drives are permanently connected to the vehicle in their direction of operation.

Turntable drive

A turntable is a drive system consisting of 2 travel drives that provide the feed.

  • The direction of travel can be determined by the different direction of rotation and speeds of the individual wheels.
  • The direction of travel can be determined independently from the vehicle orientation via a turntable drive mechanism.
  • From 2 turntable drives, free-ranging travel is possible.

Turntable drive with active steering

The active turntable drive is a drive system consisting of 2 travel drives and a slewing gear drive (steering drive).

  • The vehicle can be aligned independently of the turntable drive alignment.
  • The direction of travel can be determined by the different direction of rotation and speeds of the individual wheels.
  • The direction of travel can be determined independently of the vehicle orientation.
  • The slewing gear drive enables sideways travel.

Travel and steering drive

A travel and steering drive is a drive system consisting of a classic drive wheel and an additionally driven rotary axis that can turn the drive wheel.

  • The travel drive provides feed to the vehicle by driving the wheel.
  • A vehicle with at least 2 travel and steering drives can move omnidirectional but not always without transition.
  • The drive wheels may need to be aligned before travel.

Drive unit with Mecanum wheel

The drive unit with Mecanum wheel is a drive system with at least 2 drive wheels fixed to the vehicle in pairs.

  • When using at least 4 Mecanum wheels, sideways travel is possible (omnidirectional).
  • It is the only drive system that can move seamlessly (without alignment) in a holonomic way.

Steering unit

A steering unit consists of a driven rotation axis.

  • To generate propulsion, a steering unit must always be used in combination with another drive unit.