MANEUVERING OF VEHICLES

Equations are derived to govern the motion of vehicles which move on rolling wheels. A relation between the centers of curvature of the trajectories of the wheels and the center of rotation of the vehicle is established. From this relation the general kinematic laws of motion are derived. Applications to questions of offtracking (the difference between the trajectories of the front and back wheels of the vehicle) and optimal steering (how to steer around a tight corner) are considered.