NASA Lunar Collector

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NASA's Lunar Sampling System features a collector mounted on the lander or rover handling arm, with an adapted interface (a flange in this case). A parallel arm system ensures constant contact between the collector and the surface. The collector can be mounted on a vertical axis swing arm to cover a circular area. To minimize weight, containers are switched using the handling arm. An operator monitors the flow via camera and operates the arm/collector remotely. The system consists of a slanted screw/helical with progressive pitch, a conical end, a screw pipe housing, a sorting grate at the end of the tube, an open chute-tube that can be moved longitudinally, a container magazine for placing containers, and five containers. A motor drives the rotating screw, while a parallel arm system ensures contact with the ground during operation. The collector is clamped onto the rover or lander's handling arm. The entire process can be monitored from the camera, and the operator guides the arm/collector opening over the surface to collect rocks. Rocks pass through a sorting grate and fall into containers according to size, as determined by the chute location under the grate. The collector can work on uneven surfaces and has low power consumption due to only one motor. Most of the construction is made from aluminum, with a total weight (excluding motor) less than 1000 grams. The collector has been 3D-printed in half scale for testing purposes.