Little else gets me as excited about engineering as the Mars Rover Competition. Finally, all that we have been working toward all year comes to the moment of truth. Failure, success and bragging rights of the century. All happen at this awe inspiring occasion.
Before delving into the competition itself, it is important to give a little background. At the University Mars Rover Competition, held in Hanksville Utah, there are four basic events. 1. Equipment Servicing: In this event, the rover is required to do a series of tasks, including testing current, flipping switches and cleaning off a solar panel. 2. Sample collection: In this event, a sample must be collected at least 2 inches below the surface of the dessert's hardened soil and returned to the base. This sample must then be analysed for signs of life. 3. Obstacle course: A grueling terrain course through which only the best rovers (and drivers) will survive. 4. Package deployment: Astronauts are stuck out in the unforgiving arid martian landscape! Specific packages must be dropped off to up to 5 astronauts within 2 meters of their position without touching the astronauts. All tasks have weight restrictions for the rover.
This year, I was fortunate enough to have been given the task of redesigning the entire package deployment system. Last year's system was very much overweight and used tons of energy. This year, I decided to change to thinner sheet metal, a slick design (cutting out much of the not needed materials), and servos. This idea reduced weight and made it possible to operate it off the rover's main battery unit, rather than using really heavy batteries on top of the already heavy system. I was able to cut off about 10 lbs (approx.) from the old design, and made it more reliable and just as durable. ENGINEERING POWER IN ACTION!!!
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Mars Rover Competition 2012
Our last adventure took us to the city of Hanksville, Utah. This city is best known as the only gas station for hours for those going to or coming from Lake Powell. Just outside the city is the Mars Research Station. Here, we attended the annual University Rover Competition as part of the BYU Mars Rover team. For the last year, we have been building and designing a prototype Mars Rover used to compete in this competition. I was one of the Machinists for the group. Since I am so new in the Mechanical Engineering major, I could offer very little else. Thursday morning, the team and the rover went down to Hanksville, but due to work and school, Nathanael and I were unable to go until early Friday morning.
We began our voyage to Hanksville at 2am. We were to arrive well before 8am, which was the earliest the first heat (or competition) could possibly be held. After loading the GPS with instructions on how to get there, we started on our long drive. We arrived in Hanksville at about 5am, and took what we meant to be a small nap. We ended up waking up due to the rise in temperature in our car from the sun at about 9am to find that our group had already left and begun the first heat: Sample Collection.
We arrived just in time to get a few photos of the rover in action, but they had already collected and brought back a sample to test for life signs. We were there long enough for the team to give a full description of the rover, and what type of study it would do on Mars, then we packed up and left to do repairs on the rover and GPS (which at the time wasn't working) for the next heat.
Due to the fact we had had very little sleep, Nathanael and I took a nap during the break while the Electrical Engineers were hard at work. Unfortunately, we set the clock for 2am, not 2pm and missed the second heat (Solar Panel Cleaner) entirely. We heard stories later, but we were sad to have missed it, to say the least.
That night, the team banded together to either work on the rover or get to know one another. A few of us had brought musical instruments, and I had a fun time showing off my mad Ocarina skills. We sang songs to the Ukulele, and told nerdy jokes. It was a magical time, at least for those not involved in fixing the wiring and GPS unit. Those people were frustrated all night.
At the crack of dawn, the team was back up and at it. Our first heat was at 8:30am, and we had to have the rover ready, packed, and the rooms cleared for checkout. So with all our gear, luggage and robotics in tow, we headed for the first competition of the day. Our little Mustang took the terrain really well. It was funny to see another member's bug roughing it as well. The dirt roads were not easy to drive on and probably took quite a toll on our cars. However, we all arrived in one piece, and quickly set to work on setting up the rover.
The time came, and we were all ready for the package deployment system when suddenly, the rover refused to move. We spent our entire competition time taking the rover apart and trying to make it run, but nothing worked. We finally had to leave to our next heat without having even moved the rover outside the launching site.
Suddenly, a desert storm arose out of nowhere and blew right over the site where our next competition was to be held. The judges gave the team ahead of us a little more time due to the storm to finish their heat, which bought us enough time to finish our repairs on our backup rover, the Quadcopter. We left before it flew, but it did an amazing job at flying in 10+ mph wind!
BYU received 2nd, despite getting little to no points on one of our heats. We were all very pleased, and a little disappointed at knowing that had the rover worked faithfully, we would have received first.
All-in-all, it was an amazing trip, with amazing people in an amazing location. To those who like to get a little sandy, don't mind the heat and like being in solitude, you should try camping around there. Goblin Valley is not too far from where we were, and there is a dinosaur dig almost at the town!
Happy Trails!
Christine Stone Mooth
We began our voyage to Hanksville at 2am. We were to arrive well before 8am, which was the earliest the first heat (or competition) could possibly be held. After loading the GPS with instructions on how to get there, we started on our long drive. We arrived in Hanksville at about 5am, and took what we meant to be a small nap. We ended up waking up due to the rise in temperature in our car from the sun at about 9am to find that our group had already left and begun the first heat: Sample Collection.
We arrived just in time to get a few photos of the rover in action, but they had already collected and brought back a sample to test for life signs. We were there long enough for the team to give a full description of the rover, and what type of study it would do on Mars, then we packed up and left to do repairs on the rover and GPS (which at the time wasn't working) for the next heat.
Due to the fact we had had very little sleep, Nathanael and I took a nap during the break while the Electrical Engineers were hard at work. Unfortunately, we set the clock for 2am, not 2pm and missed the second heat (Solar Panel Cleaner) entirely. We heard stories later, but we were sad to have missed it, to say the least.
That night, the team banded together to either work on the rover or get to know one another. A few of us had brought musical instruments, and I had a fun time showing off my mad Ocarina skills. We sang songs to the Ukulele, and told nerdy jokes. It was a magical time, at least for those not involved in fixing the wiring and GPS unit. Those people were frustrated all night.
At the crack of dawn, the team was back up and at it. Our first heat was at 8:30am, and we had to have the rover ready, packed, and the rooms cleared for checkout. So with all our gear, luggage and robotics in tow, we headed for the first competition of the day. Our little Mustang took the terrain really well. It was funny to see another member's bug roughing it as well. The dirt roads were not easy to drive on and probably took quite a toll on our cars. However, we all arrived in one piece, and quickly set to work on setting up the rover.
The time came, and we were all ready for the package deployment system when suddenly, the rover refused to move. We spent our entire competition time taking the rover apart and trying to make it run, but nothing worked. We finally had to leave to our next heat without having even moved the rover outside the launching site.
Suddenly, a desert storm arose out of nowhere and blew right over the site where our next competition was to be held. The judges gave the team ahead of us a little more time due to the storm to finish their heat, which bought us enough time to finish our repairs on our backup rover, the Quadcopter. We left before it flew, but it did an amazing job at flying in 10+ mph wind!
BYU received 2nd, despite getting little to no points on one of our heats. We were all very pleased, and a little disappointed at knowing that had the rover worked faithfully, we would have received first.
All-in-all, it was an amazing trip, with amazing people in an amazing location. To those who like to get a little sandy, don't mind the heat and like being in solitude, you should try camping around there. Goblin Valley is not too far from where we were, and there is a dinosaur dig almost at the town!
Happy Trails!
Christine Stone Mooth
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Strawberry Reservoir Camping
Our most recent adventure took us to Strawberry Lake. My parents invited us out with the family to go camping for the Memorial Day weekend. This was our first campout together! It was freezing. Up in the higher elevation, the nice spring weather felt in Provo turned to frigidity. It was much better at our campsite than on the lake, as well. We were one of the few sites sheltered by trees.
There was much fighting about who would light and build the fires while we were there. Turns out, every one of the Stone family is a pyro. Guess that is stating the obvious.
Nathanael and I came up Saturday, after work and a short nap. By the time we were all packed and grabbed a few things requested by the family, it an hour until sundown. By the time we hit Heber, the half-way point, it was getting dark. For those who don't know what it is like trying to navigate a mountainside/lakeside in the middle of the night, it is like walking around your house without the lights on. Even with brights, you feel like you might hit some critter in the road or slip into another lane at any time. It is very grueling, and quite scary. But we made it alive, although we got lost a few times before we thought to use the GPS in our phones. (Thanks dad!) Saturday ended with falling asleep in the back of the Yukon on a mattress built from left over sleeping bags. I loved the adventure, until I got cold in the middle of the night, but this was quickly solved by stealing one of the mummy bags from under Nathanael and using it for its intended purpose.
Sunday was amazing. Frankly, any day that begins with the sun coming over the mountains and a bonfire is amazing in my opinion. After a quick breakfast with the late-risers in the family, we headed off to church in our partially completed Sunday attire. By this, I mean some of us lacked a shoe, so had to go in sandals or tennis shoes instead, or wore pants under skirts. All of us smelled of camp smoke, which on top of our appearance made mom a little embarrassed. After Sacrament Meeting, we left back to the campsite and played Munchkins with the family. Those who weren't playing with us ended up playing Angry Birds on the new phones. Later that night, we had a flag burning ceremony, which was amazing for half of us, and boring for the other half. But, nonetheless, I think we all felt the spirit and pride of America at one point or another. We had to abandon the fire pit afterwards. The fumes from the flags were very nasty, and the smoke was thick and black. We had dinner, then went to bed. Mom surprised us with a mattress in the back of the car which literally filled half the trunk and two rows of seats. It was a very warm night. Monday, Nathanael left early with Jennifer to go to work. I stayed behind to fish. We used the fish finder, but still found nothing and after a few hours had to leave to go home.
It was a fun trip, and I loved being with my family once again. I missed Elizabeth (she is in England at the moment), and Nathanael and Jennifer when they left. But I needed a break and I can think of no better way to spend it than outdoors with family around a fire. It was marvelous.
There was much fighting about who would light and build the fires while we were there. Turns out, every one of the Stone family is a pyro. Guess that is stating the obvious.
Nathanael and I came up Saturday, after work and a short nap. By the time we were all packed and grabbed a few things requested by the family, it an hour until sundown. By the time we hit Heber, the half-way point, it was getting dark. For those who don't know what it is like trying to navigate a mountainside/lakeside in the middle of the night, it is like walking around your house without the lights on. Even with brights, you feel like you might hit some critter in the road or slip into another lane at any time. It is very grueling, and quite scary. But we made it alive, although we got lost a few times before we thought to use the GPS in our phones. (Thanks dad!) Saturday ended with falling asleep in the back of the Yukon on a mattress built from left over sleeping bags. I loved the adventure, until I got cold in the middle of the night, but this was quickly solved by stealing one of the mummy bags from under Nathanael and using it for its intended purpose.
Sunday was amazing. Frankly, any day that begins with the sun coming over the mountains and a bonfire is amazing in my opinion. After a quick breakfast with the late-risers in the family, we headed off to church in our partially completed Sunday attire. By this, I mean some of us lacked a shoe, so had to go in sandals or tennis shoes instead, or wore pants under skirts. All of us smelled of camp smoke, which on top of our appearance made mom a little embarrassed. After Sacrament Meeting, we left back to the campsite and played Munchkins with the family. Those who weren't playing with us ended up playing Angry Birds on the new phones. Later that night, we had a flag burning ceremony, which was amazing for half of us, and boring for the other half. But, nonetheless, I think we all felt the spirit and pride of America at one point or another. We had to abandon the fire pit afterwards. The fumes from the flags were very nasty, and the smoke was thick and black. We had dinner, then went to bed. Mom surprised us with a mattress in the back of the car which literally filled half the trunk and two rows of seats. It was a very warm night. Monday, Nathanael left early with Jennifer to go to work. I stayed behind to fish. We used the fish finder, but still found nothing and after a few hours had to leave to go home.
It was a fun trip, and I loved being with my family once again. I missed Elizabeth (she is in England at the moment), and Nathanael and Jennifer when they left. But I needed a break and I can think of no better way to spend it than outdoors with family around a fire. It was marvelous.
Friday, March 18, 2011
The Trip to the Airport
The first part of any vacation, trip or adventure is getting there. Most would overlook the trip to the airport as any part of the vacation, but Nat and I definitely started our vacation there. It became one of the most memorable parts of the entire trip, as well as dangerous.
As we were going up Interstate 15 the car started acting weird. It felt as if we were going over loose asphalt or rumble strips when in fact the newly paved road had no nicks or bumps in it at all. Both of us were thinking this was odd when the car suddenly started shaking. The shaking got worse and worse until finally it became difficult to control. Looking over at Nat, who was driving, I saw him struggle with the wheel trying to keep us going as straight as possible. Due to the construction, there was no shoulder for us to pull off on, so we exited as soon as possible and parked on the off ramp.
What we saw next made me laugh and Nat put his hands on his head in amazement. The front right tire looked as if it had gone through a shredder! We considered changing it ourselves, something neither of us had ever done before, but realized the hubcaps were locked in place and we didn't have the key to get the wheel off. Fortunately right across the street from where we parked was a gas station where we made calls to family members for help (thanks Dad!). While calling, we looked out the window and across the street from the gas station was a Tire Center! We then walked back to the car and brought it to the center to get the tire changed, which they did free of charge!
We then commenced to the airport, and even arrived a little early!
As we were going up Interstate 15 the car started acting weird. It felt as if we were going over loose asphalt or rumble strips when in fact the newly paved road had no nicks or bumps in it at all. Both of us were thinking this was odd when the car suddenly started shaking. The shaking got worse and worse until finally it became difficult to control. Looking over at Nat, who was driving, I saw him struggle with the wheel trying to keep us going as straight as possible. Due to the construction, there was no shoulder for us to pull off on, so we exited as soon as possible and parked on the off ramp.
What we saw next made me laugh and Nat put his hands on his head in amazement. The front right tire looked as if it had gone through a shredder! We considered changing it ourselves, something neither of us had ever done before, but realized the hubcaps were locked in place and we didn't have the key to get the wheel off. Fortunately right across the street from where we parked was a gas station where we made calls to family members for help (thanks Dad!). While calling, we looked out the window and across the street from the gas station was a Tire Center! We then walked back to the car and brought it to the center to get the tire changed, which they did free of charge!
We then commenced to the airport, and even arrived a little early!
The Second Flight
For the previous few weeks, Nat and I had been counting down the days to when we were to leave to Illinois. Finally, the day comes. I wake at 8:00am to finish packing. We were to leave at 8pm, which gave me time to take my American Heritage test and finish my art assignment before the trip. However, at about 8:30am I get a knock at the door. It's Nat, standing there with an embarrassed face. I knew what he was going to ask.
"Christine?"
"What?"
"Guess what I just did..."
I go through the regular list of guesses; Locked the keys in the car? Ran the car out of gas? Crashed the car? Forgot to shave?
"No, the flight was yesterday at 8pm."
Laughing as I usually do at these kinds of situations, I did my best to make it so the situation didn't end up being an awkward one, assuring him that I was fine with whatever happens. We got tickets for later that afternoon and started on our way to the airport.
I hope Nat posts his side of the story. It is a LOT more eventful. :)
"Christine?"
"What?"
"Guess what I just did..."
I go through the regular list of guesses; Locked the keys in the car? Ran the car out of gas? Crashed the car? Forgot to shave?
"No, the flight was yesterday at 8pm."
Laughing as I usually do at these kinds of situations, I did my best to make it so the situation didn't end up being an awkward one, assuring him that I was fine with whatever happens. We got tickets for later that afternoon and started on our way to the airport.
I hope Nat posts his side of the story. It is a LOT more eventful. :)
Fateful Trip that Inspired It All
This weekend (Friday March 18, 2011 - Monday March 21, 2011) was the trip that inspired this blog. Full of frightening situations, laughter and excitement, my trip East was anything but boring. A special thank you to the Mooth Family who made my adventure possible and who demonstrated amazing patience with me as I stayed with them, especially for Nathanael, who's funny accidents and mistakes made this trip as eventful as one could ever dream.
I love you guys! I hope to see you again, and soon!
With Love,
Christine
I love you guys! I hope to see you again, and soon!
With Love,
Christine
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