Turning Radius Of Robot Calculator

Work out turning radius of robot instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Turning Radius Of Robot Calculator

For Ackermann steering the turn radius is wheelbase divided by the tangent of the steering angle. The outer wheel traces a larger radius by half the track width, which is why the swept corridor is wider than the robot and must be checked against aisle widths.

Formula

Ackermann radius

R = wheelbase / tan(steering angle); outer radius = R + track/2

Worked example

With the default values below, Turning Radius Of Robot Calculator returns Turn radius at the centreline of 1.29. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Wheelbase: 600 mm
Steering angle: 25 °
Forward speed: 1 m/s
Track width: 480 mm

Results

Turn radius at the centreline: 1.29 m
Outer wheel radius: 1.53 m
Lateral acceleration: 0.78 m/s²
Yaw rate: 44.53 °/s

Step by step

1Values used
2Ackermann radius
3Turn radius at the centreline= 1.29 m
4Outer wheel radius= 1.53 m
5Lateral acceleration= 0.78 m/s²
6Yaw rate= 44.53 °/s

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does a long wheelbase turn worse?

Radius is directly proportional to wheelbase, so a longer robot needs a bigger circle at the same steering angle.

What limits lateral acceleration?

Tyre or wheel friction and the tipping threshold set by track width and centre of gravity height. Payload high up reduces the safe speed sharply.