Date of Award
2021
Document Type
Open Access Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MS)
Administrative Home Department
Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Advisor 1
Paul van Susante
Committee Member 1
Gordon Parker
Committee Member 2
Jung Yun Bae
Abstract
Gravity offloading is a tool used to test how different gravitational forces will impact the mobility of rovers bound for Lunar or Martian expeditions. Previous approaches have been successful in simulating partial gravity environments, and this report details how the Infrared- Gravity offload (IRGO) system, developed for the Planetary Surface Technology Development Laboratory (PSTDL) and lunar simulant sandbox, has a similar aim. Through a series of iterations, IRGO has been developed to actively track an infrared beacon and follow a rover within the test chamber to eliminate inertial and friction forces along two horizonal axes. A portion of a rover’s weight is offloaded using a passive counterweight system to provide a third translational degree of freedom. Future plans to incorporate a lightweight gimbal as well as an active vertical axis are also discussed as solutions to improving the IRGO system.
Recommended Citation
Wavrunek, Travis, "ACTIVE GRAVITY OFFLOADING SYSTEM WITH INFRARED TRACKING FOR ROVER TESTING", Open Access Master's Thesis, Michigan Technological University, 2021.