Abstract: Considering the structural characteristic of the eight-wheeled lunar rover with the torsion-bar and rocker suspension and lunar terrain condition, the relationship between the structural dimension of the eight-wheel lunar rover with the torsion-bar and rocker suspension and the parameters for figuring the climbing obstacle capability is described by the quasi-static method. According to the meaning of the inserted coefficient, the climbing vertical obstacle height of the unit wheel diameter is gained by the primary structural parameters described. The curve between climbing vertical obstacle height of the unit wheel diameter and every structural parameter is obtained. The climbing obstacle capability of every wheel synthetically is evaluated. Finally the variation curve is obtained when the structural parameters changes at the same time as the different inserted coefficient. The effect of the two primary structural parameters working on the lunar rover climbing obstacle capability is analysed. The relative error between the height of simulation and that of theoretical calculation is below 10%, which verifies the reliability of analysis.

Key words: eight-wheel lunar rover, torsion-bar and rocker suspension, climbing obstacle capability