When to choose the Ackerman robot chassis ?

In the system design of intelligent mobile robots, low-speed autonomous vehicles, and specialized work platforms, the chassis architecture serves not only as the physical foundation supporting the body structure and power system, but also as the core element determining its motion performance, environmental adaptability, and task execution efficiency. Next, this article will provide recommendations from three perspectives: the suitable and unsuitable environments for Ackermann steering chassis, and how to select an Ackermann steering chassis.

1. Outdoor Structured/Semi-Structured Roads: Campus/Campus Logistics Delivery (Express Delivery, Food Delivery), Internal Material Transport in Large Industrial Parks/Ports/Airports, Low-Speed Municipal Sanitation/Patrol Vehicles (e.g., Sweepers, Patrol Vehicles), Automated Operations in Large Farms/Orchards (Spraying, Monitoring).

Reason: The road surface is relatively flat (asphalt, concrete, compacted dirt roads), features clearly defined lane markings or path boundaries, and requires higher driving speeds (>5-10 km/h) and long-range endurance. Ackermann steering offers superior stability at high speeds, relatively low energy consumption (compared to the continuous friction losses of differential steering), and minimal tire wear.

2. Open, flat outdoor areas: Patrol, cleaning, and service robots for large plazas, parks, golf courses, and sports fields; inspection robots for large open-air warehouses/storage yards.

Reason: The open space with few and sparsely distributed obstacles provides sufficient room for the robot to execute the turning radius required for an Ackermann maneuver.

3. Long-distance tasks requiring precise path tracking: Precision seeding/fertilizing/spraying in farm fields (driving in straight lines), Long-distance pipeline inspections (power, oil), Surveying and mapping operations.

Reason: Ackerman steering delivers exceptional path-tracking accuracy and stability during straight-line driving and on wide-radius turns, making it particularly well-suited for tasks requiring prolonged maintenance of a straight trajectory.

4. Noise-sensitive and tire-wear-sensitive environments: Nighttime deliveries in upscale residential areas; internal transportation within historic buildings/museum campuses (in areas permitting wheeled vehicles).

Reason: Compared to differential steering (especially in tracked or solid-tire vehicles), Ackermann steering produces less tire slip, lower noise levels, and reduced wear on delicate surfaces like cobblestone roads and epoxy flooring when traveling on smooth terrain.

Confined indoor environments: Standard warehouses (with narrow shelving aisles), hospital ward corridors, office building interiors, and residential settings.

Reason: Ackerman steering requires a large turning radius (typically far exceeding the vehicle's length). In narrow passages, areas requiring frequent 90-degree turns, or spaces demanding on-the-spot directional adjustments, it becomes extremely cumbersome and may even render the vehicle incapable of completing tasks.

1. Rugged, soft, or unstructured terrain: Wilderness exploration, mountain/forest patrols, construction site debris, deep snow/mud/sand, undeveloped farmland.

Reasons:

Suspension Limitations: Most Ackermann chassis feature rigid or basic suspension systems, making them ill-equipped to handle significant bumps and uneven terrain. This often results in wheels lifting off the ground, losing traction, or sustaining damage.

Steering Lockup: When turning on soft surfaces (mud, sand), the inner steering wheel is highly susceptible to sinking and locking up. This prevents the entire chassis from turning and can lead to the vehicle becoming stuck.

Ground Clearance: Typically, low ground clearance increases the risk of bottoming out.

Traction Distribution: Commonly rear-wheel drive with front wheels solely for steering. On low-friction surfaces (wet, sandy terrain), excessive steering resistance from the front wheels can cause rear wheels to slip and spin.

2. Scenarios requiring frequent on-the-spot turning/zero-radius turning: Material docking alongside precision assembly lines, operations requiring posture adjustment in extremely confined spaces (e.g., docking charging ports, precise gripping).

Reason:

The Ackermann steering configuration cannot achieve zero-turn radius maneuvers. Completing a 180-degree turn requires sufficient space to draw a large circle. Differential steering, omnidirectional wheels, or a chassis with steerable wheels can rotate in place.

3. Environments with numerous small obstacles or requiring high obstacle-crossing capability: urban sidewalks (curbs, manhole covers, debris), forest trails (tree roots, rocks), disaster sites.

Reason: The wheeled Ackermann chassis has limited obstacle-crossing capability; small steps, ditches, and protruding rocks can easily trap it.

The Ackerman steering robot chassis is the ideal choice for outdoor medium-to-high speed, long-distance, structured/semi-structured flat-surface applications. It demonstrates significant advantages in campus logistics, large-scale industrial transportation, agricultural automation (under specific conditions), and open-area patrol/operation scenarios.

However, the Ackermann chassis's limitations become pronounced in narrow, rugged, or densely obstructed environments, or when extreme low-speed maneuverability and on-the-spot turning capability are required. In such cases, differential steering, omnidirectional wheels, or tracked chassis should be prioritized.

When deciding whether to use the Ackerman chassis, be sure to consider the following core environmental factors:

1. Road surface conditions: Is it flat and hard? (Yes: ✅; No: ❌)

2. Spatial dimensions and obstacle density: Is the space open? Is there sufficient turning space? Are obstacles sparse and low? (Open and sparse: ✅; Narrow and dense: ❌)

3. Speed requirements: Does it require medium-to-high speed (>5 km/h) for long-distance travel? (Yes: ✅; Low-speed precision operation: ❌)

4. Path characteristics: Is the path primarily long straights + large-radius curves, or frequent sharp turns/90-degree turns? (Former: ✅; Latter: ❌)

5. Steering flexibility requirements: Does it require on-the-spot turning or an extremely small turning radius? (Required: ❌; Not required: ✅)

6. Terrain challenges: Are there steep slopes (>15-20°), deep soft ground (mud/sand/snow), significant undulations, or tall obstacles? (Present: ❌; Absent: ✅)