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!!!
