Exomars rover chassis analysis & design

The European ExoMars mission represents the first flagship of the European ExoMars programme for the robotic exploration of Mars. The ambitious rover of 200+kg carries the 40 kg Pasteur scientific instrument suite to conduct exobiology-focussed investigation of the Martian surface and near sub-surface. The rover is required to be highly mobile across a potentially hostile terrain. This mobility is the key to maximising the availability of potential sites of scientific interest. Hence, the chassis design is critical in determining the effectiveness of achievability of its scientific targets. The chassis design and its tractive performance is the focus of this paper.