DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF MARS ROVER

Author (s) : Dr.A.SRINIVASAN, Dr.R.VISWANATHAN, D.R.JOSHUA, K. RADHAKRISHNAN, F.SALMANKHAN

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Abstract :
The Project work "Mars Rover" deals with the important aspect of improving the rover from its previous designs. The Mars rover has to operate on rough and harsh environments for which it was designed but several factors restrict its operational capabilities, so the focus of our research is to overcome restrictions to decrease it to within an acceptable range for its smooth performance. Our research on the restrictions of the rover conducted by our team focused mainly on the drive system and its drive modules which were not efficient, the linkage, the overturning or tilt range of the rover and the battery inefficiency from the other restrictions and problems that were obtained from the literature review and research so, we conducted research on how to improve that. The rover has been completely made from PVC to increase its capability to withstand shocks, vibrations and mechanical failures caused by the harsh environment where it is operated on. The result of the project was the implementation of independent directional control utilizing minimum drive modules which increases the efficiency of the battery and increases the operating time of the rover, near zero tilt of the main body of the rover by self balancing of the body counterweight method which decreases the tilt or overturning percentage of the rover and its stability and finally by direct linkage of the various links comprising the rover which increases the loading capacity. Thus the various improvements ensure structural, tilt stability, mechanical integrity and overall weight reduction and mechanical feasibility.

Keywords : vibrations, counterweight and mechanical integrity

Conference Date : 17/09/2021

Pages : 165

Paper ID : IESMDT163