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ENGINEERING GUIDE / SHINING ROBOTICS

Differential drive vs four-wheel steering.

Differential drive controls motion through the relative speeds of its drive wheels. A four-wheel steering platform adds steering control at the wheels. Choose by the required motion, footprint and integration work, then validate behavior in your application.

By Shining Robotics · updated

PUBLISHED PLATFORM DATA

Compare the platform, then the application.

Published platform comparison · specifications reviewed 6 October 2026
PlatformMotionPayloadL × W × HBatteryROS support
SR-C400 ↗Differential drive20 kg maximum400 × 400 × 260 mm24 V / 10 AhROS 1 / ROS 2
SR-C500 ↗Differential drive50 kg maximum500 × 500 × 310 mm24 V / 20 AhROS 1 / ROS 2
SR-C600 ↗Differential drive50 kg maximum (standard); 150 kg optional600 × 450 × 260 mm (standard)24 V / 20 Ah standard (30 Ah optional)ROS 1 / ROS 2
SR-C800 ↗Differential drive150 kg maximum800 × 550 × 260 mm24 V / 30 AhROS 1 / ROS 2
SR-X700 ↗Four-wheel drive & steering150 kg rated700 × 600 × 300 mm48 V / 52 AhROS 1 / ROS 2

Maximum and rated payload are different specification labels. Confirm test conditions, load distribution, center of gravity and operating speed for your project. SR-C600: 50 kg maximum payload and 20 Ah battery in the standard configuration; 150 kg payload and 30 Ah battery options. Confirm the specifications of the selected configuration.

Differential drive and four-wheel steering: questions for an integration review
DecisionSR-C differential driveSR-X700 4WD / 4WS
Motion architectureDrive-wheel speed difference controls turning.Drive and steering modules require coordinated control.
Selection questionDoes the validated turning behavior fit the route and upper module?Which steering modes and kinematics are delivered and validated?
Published chassis payloadsSR-C400: 20 kg; SR-C500: 50 kg; SR-C600: 50 kg standard, 150 kg optional; SR-C800: 150 kg maximum.SR-X700: 150 kg rated.
ROS supportROS 1 and ROS 2; confirm configuration-specific drivers.ROS 1 and ROS 2; confirm configuration-specific drivers.
Integration assessmentWheel contact, floor, center of gravity, commands and feedback.Steering behavior, floor, center of gravity, commands and feedback.

SR-C differential-drive series

A conventional mobile base architecture for home robots, upper modules and system integration. Evaluate turning behavior, wheel contact, floor conditions and your navigation stack.

SR-X700 four-wheel drive and steering

Combines drive and steering modules. Confirm available steering modes, kinematics, control interfaces and validated behavior for your configuration rather than assuming a particular maneuver is supported.

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

The questions that determine fit.

  1. Task and environment: floor, route width, obstacles, indoor or other operating conditions.
  2. Payload and geometry: upper-module mass, footprint, height and center of gravity.
  3. Motion: required turning behavior, speed and route constraints.
  4. Software: ROS distribution, OS, drivers, navigation configuration and customer algorithms.
  5. Supply scope: quantity, accessories, documentation, support and acceptance criteria.

Published maximum and rated payload labels use different definitions. Assess the selected platform under the intended load, speed and conditions. Runtime and application performance need configuration-specific validation.