Mars Axle Robot Is Almost As Simple As It Gets
Writing by Evan Ackerman on Friday, 24 of October , 2008 at 4:47 am
Exploration robots generally have two basic functions to perform: taking pictures, and taking samples. Taking samples is the really tricky part, since it requires the robot to navigate unfamiliar terrain, and often the most interesting samples are in equally interesting geological locations, like on the sides of cliffs and inside craters. NASA’s Opportunity rover spent more than a month stuck in a sand dune a few years ago, and Spirit has had similar problems.
One solution to the problem is to design a sub-rover specifically for sample taking, allowing the primary rover to stay safe. The sub-rover would be small, simple, and robust, and NASA engineers have designed a prototype that consists of just one single axle with a sample arm sticking out of it:
It’s hard to see in the video, but there’s a cable running from the center of the robot to an anchor point up the wall behind it. On Mars, the cable would be anchored to a larger robot, or even to a human. It’s only got 3 motors, but using the cable for leverage the robot can climb loose or slippery surfaces, vertical surfaces, or even traverse overhangs. The axle robot is just a proof of concept at this stage, but it’s such an intuitive design that I’m confident we’ll be seeing more of it.
VIA [ YouTube ]
Comments (3)
Category: Research
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Comment by Ironman
Made Friday, 24 of October , 2008 at 8:20 am
I’ve seen similar designs used by teams that do AUVSI aerial competitions. They have to pick out an open window in a building and launch something through it to explore the building. The robot that gets chucked at the building is often just like that robot, only about 100 times smaller and much faster.
it’s definitely a very simple and robust idea.
Another cool idea to do with these would be to pack like a dozen or so of them in one rocket, and then when they’re in martian atmosphere they split off and spread out across a wide range of the surface….
they could even work in teams
Comment by Earthworm
Made Monday, 27 of October , 2008 at 10:25 am
“On Mars, the cable would be anchored to a larger robot, or even to a human.”
Why would we need this then if we had people on Mars? Couldn’t they just go pick it up themselves?
Comment by Ironman
Made Monday, 27 of October , 2008 at 2:50 pm
People may not want to explore caverns in primitive spacesuits.