Lunar excavator vehicle concept

grabcad

I see that my initial entry didn't meet the challenge's fundamental requirements, so I'll start fresh this time. I'm excited to create something new, and I couldn't help but dive right in. To begin with, I utilized a shaftless screw for excavation purposes. Once the bucket is full, the shaftless screw can securely grip regolith and transport it to the unloading site. In addition, I'd like to note that before completing the design, I built a small prototype to test the shaftless screw's excavation capabilities as well as its ability to hold and unload materials, which showed outstanding results. I designed and animated this autonomous excavator vehicle using SketchUp Pro, and the video was created with iMovie. All calculations for the functional mechanical configuration and proportions of this conceptual vehicle are feasible and align with the Moon's astrophysical environment. The structural design aimed to minimize mechanism usage and deployable structures to conserve mass. The shaftless screw and its fastenings are made of titanium, while the entire body and bucket are constructed from carbon fiber. The bucket holding arm features 2-dimensional movement joints driven by an electric motor. Some technical specifications include: Bucket radius: 110 mm Bucket length: 710 mm Vehicle dimensions: 840mm * 880 mm Bucket volume: 26 liters Number of movable joints on each arm: 2 (x,z) Approximate vehicle weight (with solar array, batteries, bucket, and all drivers): 18-19 kg