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One of the main problems faced by planetary exploration today is the mobility limitations of current vehicles, specifically in regards to steep valleys and cliffs. These limitations have stopped space agencies from visiting certain craters and regions they deem too dangerous for their rovers, preventing scientists from getting a full picture of Mars’ geological past. The space exploration community is in need of new, novel technologies to solve this problem.
Our team is proposing a new type of vehicle, one that could safely explore areas of Mars that were once deemed inaccessible. This would take the form of a small rover, and it would be directly tethered to a larger rover similar to those currently on Mars. This small rover, which we have called “Sidekick”, would be lowered down a valley or crater using the tether and an electrical winch. Sidekick would be able to perform analysis on the cliff face as it descended, taking data and images of the geological features. Then, once the tether length was reached, the larger rover could use the winch to reel Sidekick back up to the surface.
With the funding and timeline our team was provided, we developed a basic prototype of Sidekick, integrating specific design features that could help the vehicle scale dramatic inclines safely and efficiently. Some of these features are mechanical, such as internal spring suspension for the rover’s payload and instruments, while others are more software-based, like a set of motorized arm joints that are meant to automatically conform the wheel positions to the tilt of the terrain. Combining these two systems should result in a robust vehicle that can safely navigate and adapt to severe Martian terrain.
To test out this design on real terrain, we plan to travel to a nearby geographical feature that resembles a Martian crater or cliff. The prototyped Sidekick will be hooked up to a hand-powered winch and slowly lowered down a steep incline. We will record the prototype’s motion and see if it can perform a controlled descent and ascent. We will also watch the rover’s payload and see if our design innovations allowed it to maintain stability throughout the excursion. The observations taken during this test will inform any future design changes or iterations if we were to continue this project in the future.
The results of this test will be very significant, because if our design considerations seem to improve the rover’s vertical mobility, then we could present Sidekick to NASA with the intention of developing it further. Our design would heavily address some of the mobility issues that NASA missions face, since many of their rovers have made it a point to avoid harsh terrain. Our design, if testing proves successful, could accompany one of NASA’s future rovers. Sidekick could be sent to retrieve data down steep rock faces and crater walls without endangering the main rover, resulting in an exploratory mission that’s safer and more scientifically lucrative.
Throughout our project’s progression, we kept in mind both NASA and Texas Space Grant Consortium (TSGC), our two stakeholders. TSGC is our project sponsor, and provided us with the funds for the prototype so that we could compete in the TSGC Design Challenge. Therefore, our main priority was to have the prototype operational and presentable in time for the design challenge showcase. NASA, however, would be the primary consumer for Sidekick if it were to ever be fully developed. Thus, we made sure during the design phase to cater to NASA’s design standards. If our project were to catch NASA’s attention, we might gain their financial support or technical expertise, which would allow for the continuation of our project.