nasalunarsampling

grabcad

In the NASA challenge, a rover designed for lunar sample collection features low power consumption and lightweight design. The rover includes a conveyor that transports dust, rocks, and sand through a filter system with a mesh to separate sand from larger particles. Rocks measuring 10-20mm are stored in the sample container, while larger or smaller ones are disposed. A unique feature of this system is its ability to position the conveyor and filter horizontally for sampling specific materials in layers. A strain gage determines weight added, with signals controlled and stored by a control unit. The sample container is open, allowing a camera to inspect collected samples as needed. The rover's belt-driven mechanism enables traversing rough terrain, controlled by two motors, while the conveyor can be dug into the ground using two actuators for positioning tilt and filtering system/conveyor directing. Total weight is approximately 450 grams with a power consumption of only 20 watts.