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Author Archives: Astrobotic
This video shows a simulated traverse of computer generated lunar terrain by a rover. Team members Heather Jones and Kevin Peterson created the terrain model and simulation. The lunar terrain will aid development and testing of navigation and obstacle detection software.
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Settlement of the Moon requires access to resources, especially water for life support and the creation of propellant for spacecraft. In this video, NASA-Ames scientist Rick Elphic describes the polar volatiles sensed by orbital and impact probes, and how scientists are still searching for a consensus explanation of their origin and distribution. One theory is… {read more}
Creating robots to explore and utilize the Moon requires attention to the reduced gravity, which is one-sixth that of Earth. The lower weight means robots require less power than on Earth to travel from place to place, but it also reduces the traction that machines get in the loose lunar soil. This video shows an… {read more}
The scale model of the lander is assembled and ready for its first drop test. This model will enable acquisition of orientation, velocity, and acceleration information via high speed video. The results will be compared to analytical calculations and simulation data to verify the stability of the landing and the required honeycomb stroke. The lander… {read more}
The prototype rover egress ramps have been mounted on the lander. The ramps were designed, analyzed and fabricated over the course of the semester and involved design of a spring-powered deployment mechanism. For the installation, the ramps team built a jig imitating the width and wheel diameter of the flight rover.
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The Astrobotic Technology lunar expedition will have direct-to-Earth radio links from the lander and the rover, with a rover-to-lander circuit providing a back-up route in case either primary leg fails. Integrated Microwave Technologies (IMT) has provided Astrobotic with two COFDM radios, which will provide high reliability, low power video and data links between the rover… {read more}
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