NASA Bucket Drum Challenge

grabcad

My innovative solution for the NASA Bucket Drum Design Challenge was designed to be both simple and highly effective. To achieve this, I employed the concept of scooping arms that could efficiently dig into the regolith and deposit it into the drum roll as it rotated. Each arm is strategically positioned at an offset angle of 23° to maximize efficiency. Both bucket drums are equipped with baffles that prevent material from escaping while continuously collecting it. The tips of each scoop feature specially designed teeth to break up larger pieces of regolith, ensuring a smooth collection process. To further enhance the bucket drum's capabilities, smaller "spikes" were added around the drum roll. These spikes play a crucial role in breaking up tough terrain encountered by RASSOR and are not redundant with the rest of the design. The material collected is unloaded from the drums through counterrotation, mirroring the current design being utilized. The total weight of the drum roll is estimated to be approximately 3.28 kg, with ABS PC and 1060 Alloy serving as the primary materials used in its construction. The 1060 Alloy is reserved for building the four scoops and spikes due to its superior strength-to-weight ratio, while the rest of the drum roll is composed of ABS PC to minimize weight. The total width of each scoop measures 40 millimeters, adding up to a combined total of 160 millimeters. The length of the drum is precisely 340.5 millimeters, and its overall diameter stands at 360 millimeters. With an inner diameter of 320 mm, the bucket drum boasts an expected volume capacity of around 27 liters. This design is poised to achieve a fill ratio exceeding 50% and collect over 17.6 liters of material.