Difference between revisions of "NASA Regolith Excavation Challenge"
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| − | <center>'''Please note that this contest has nothing to do with Lunarpedia or Moon Society.<br>Details are only posted here to foster debate on how to meet the challenge.''' | + | <center>'''Please note that this contest has nothing to do with [[Lunarpedia]] or [[Moon Society]].<br>Details are only posted here to foster debate on how to meet the challenge.''' |
'''''This contest took place on May 12th, 2007''''' | '''''This contest took place on May 12th, 2007''''' | ||
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| style="border-style:dashed; border-width:1px; border-color:#668B88;" | From [http://centennialchallenges.nasa.gov/cc_challenges.htm#regolith NASA - Centennial Challenges Descriptions and Resources] | | style="border-style:dashed; border-width:1px; border-color:#668B88;" | From [http://centennialchallenges.nasa.gov/cc_challenges.htm#regolith NASA - Centennial Challenges Descriptions and Resources] | ||
| − | The Regolith Excavation Challenge promotes the development of new technologies to excavate lunar regolith. Excavation is a necessary first step towards lunar resource utilization, and the unique physical properties of lunar regolith make excavation a difficult technical challenge. Advances in lunar regolith extraction have the potential to contribute significantly to the nation's space exploration operations. | + | The Regolith Excavation Challenge promotes the development of new technologies to excavate [[Regolith|lunar regolith]]. Excavation is a necessary first step towards lunar resource utilization, and the unique physical properties of lunar regolith make excavation a difficult technical challenge. Advances in lunar regolith extraction have the potential to contribute significantly to the nation's space exploration operations. |
From [http://www.californiaspaceauthority.org/regolith/ California Space Authority] | From [http://www.californiaspaceauthority.org/regolith/ California Space Authority] | ||
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== Entrants (2007) == | == Entrants (2007) == | ||
| − | === ''Technology Ranch'' === | + | |
| + | === ''<u>Technology Ranch</u>'' === | ||
Technology Ranch, Pismo Beach<br> | Technology Ranch, Pismo Beach<br> | ||
[http://www.techranch.com http://www.techranch.com]<br> | [http://www.techranch.com http://www.techranch.com]<br> | ||
| Line 48: | Line 49: | ||
==== Methods ==== | ==== Methods ==== | ||
| + | Inverted bucket, continuous chain driven drag. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The buckets are moved to the end of a 4 foot horizontal boom where they flip over and contact the regolith, and drag it back towards the delivery ramp at the root of the pivot. The machine uses 3 motors driving the bucket chain mechanism, and one to pan the boom from side to side. The boom pivots vertically as the hole it digs becomes deeper. | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''At the contest:'''<br/> | ||
| + | [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCg3n5v2S74 Tech Ranch Tornado - Front End] - YouTube video<br/> | ||
| + | [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqL0xFS6vpo Tech Ranch Tornado - Back End] - YouTube video | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''Videos of an earlier test version:'''<br/> | ||
| + | [http://www.techranch.com/tornado/images/pict1165.avi http://www.techranch.com/tornado/images/pict1165.avi] - Front View - avi video<br/> | ||
| + | [http://www.techranch.com/tornado/images/pict1164.avi http://www.techranch.com/tornado/images/pict1164.avi] - Back View - avi video | ||
==== Performance ==== | ==== Performance ==== | ||
143 pounds in 30 minutes. | 143 pounds in 30 minutes. | ||
| − | === ''The Lunar Miners'' === | + | === ''<u>The Lunar Miners</u>'' === |
The Lunar Miners, University of Missouri-Rolla | The Lunar Miners, University of Missouri-Rolla | ||
==== Methods ==== | ==== Methods ==== | ||
| − | 2 conveyor belt machine.<br> | + | 2 conveyor belt machine.<br/> |
| − | [http://news.umr.edu/news/2007/Lunar_Miners2007.html | + | [http://news.umr.edu/news/2007/Lunar_Miners2007.html Lunar Miners 2007]<br/> |
| + | [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIlM62Die6k Lunar Miners 2007 description] - YouTube video | ||
==== Performance ==== | ==== Performance ==== | ||
Broke down while digging. | Broke down while digging. | ||
| − | === ''Duplex Engineering'' === | + | === ''<u>Duplex Engineering</u>'' === |
Duplex Engineering, Michigan, Geoffrey Pulk | Duplex Engineering, Michigan, Geoffrey Pulk | ||
==== Methods ==== | ==== Methods ==== | ||
| − | [http://www.santamariatimes.com/articles/2007/05/13/news/centralcoast/news03.txt http://www.santamariatimes.com/articles/2007/05/13/news/centralcoast/news03.txt] | + | [http://www.santamariatimes.com/articles/2007/05/13/news/centralcoast/news03.txt http://www.santamariatimes.com/articles/2007/05/13/news/centralcoast/news03.txt]<br/> |
| − | + | [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZMIcx-0xNU Duplex Engineering Excavator video] - YouTube video | |
| − | [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZMIcx-0xNU Duplex Engineering Excavator video] - YouTube | ||
==== Performance ==== | ==== Performance ==== | ||
Broke down while digging. | Broke down while digging. | ||
| − | === ''Mendenhall BFD'' === | + | === ''<u>Mendenhall BFD</u>'' === |
Todd Mendenhall, Mendenhall BFD excavator. | Todd Mendenhall, Mendenhall BFD excavator. | ||
==== Methods ==== | ==== Methods ==== | ||
| − | [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y33Ftel2YCA Mendenhall BFD] - YouTube | + | [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y33Ftel2YCA Mendenhall BFD] - YouTube video<br\> |
| + | [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8P9WUXPu2M Mendenhall's BFD Operating] - YouTube video | ||
==== Performance ==== | ==== Performance ==== | ||
| Line 85: | Line 98: | ||
<center>No winners in 2007, prize rolled over and added to 2008 purse.</center> | <center>No winners in 2007, prize rolled over and added to 2008 purse.</center> | ||
| + | <!-- | ||
=== 1st Place === | === 1st Place === | ||
==== Methods ==== | ==== Methods ==== | ||
| Line 94: | Line 108: | ||
==== Methods ==== | ==== Methods ==== | ||
==== Performance ==== | ==== Performance ==== | ||
| + | --> | ||
== Could we do it better == | == Could we do it better == | ||
=== Methods === | === Methods === | ||
=== Projected Performance === | === Projected Performance === | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | [[Category:Contests and Challenges]] | ||
Latest revision as of 07:00, 10 June 2007
Details are only posted here to foster debate on how to meet the challenge.
This contest took place on May 12th, 2007
No winners
The Challenge
| From NASA - Centennial Challenges Descriptions and Resources
The Regolith Excavation Challenge promotes the development of new technologies to excavate lunar regolith. Excavation is a necessary first step towards lunar resource utilization, and the unique physical properties of lunar regolith make excavation a difficult technical challenge. Advances in lunar regolith extraction have the potential to contribute significantly to the nation's space exploration operations. From California Space Authority Teams competing in the 2007 Regolith Excavation Centennial Challenge will build autonomously operating systems to excavate lunar regolith and deliver it to a collector. This Challenge will be conducted in a "head-to-head" competition format. Teams will be challenged to excavate and deliver as much regolith as possible in 30 minutes.
The rule book: http://www.californiaspaceauthority.org/regolith/images/Regolith-Rule-Book-1_01.pdf |
Observations
The rules clearly state:
Power Source - The Power Source, provided by the Allied Partner during the Competition Attempt, will be a DC electrical source of 30 watts.
Allied Partner (in this case) = California Space Authority
Presumably this is the "continuous" DC input power to your robot.
The weight of the power supply does not count towards robot weight.
Questions
Ideas for meeting the challenge
Entrants (2007)
Technology Ranch
Technology Ranch, Pismo Beach
http://www.techranch.com
Jim Greenhaw entered Tech Ranch Tornado lunar regolith excavator into contest only one month prior to event.
Methods
Inverted bucket, continuous chain driven drag.
The buckets are moved to the end of a 4 foot horizontal boom where they flip over and contact the regolith, and drag it back towards the delivery ramp at the root of the pivot. The machine uses 3 motors driving the bucket chain mechanism, and one to pan the boom from side to side. The boom pivots vertically as the hole it digs becomes deeper.
At the contest:
Tech Ranch Tornado - Front End - YouTube video
Tech Ranch Tornado - Back End - YouTube video
Videos of an earlier test version:
http://www.techranch.com/tornado/images/pict1165.avi - Front View - avi video
http://www.techranch.com/tornado/images/pict1164.avi - Back View - avi video
Performance
143 pounds in 30 minutes.
The Lunar Miners
The Lunar Miners, University of Missouri-Rolla
Methods
2 conveyor belt machine.
Lunar Miners 2007
Lunar Miners 2007 description - YouTube video
Performance
Broke down while digging.
Duplex Engineering
Duplex Engineering, Michigan, Geoffrey Pulk
Methods
http://www.santamariatimes.com/articles/2007/05/13/news/centralcoast/news03.txt
Duplex Engineering Excavator video - YouTube video
Performance
Broke down while digging.
Mendenhall BFD
Todd Mendenhall, Mendenhall BFD excavator.
Methods
Mendenhall BFD - YouTube video<br\> Mendenhall's BFD Operating - YouTube video
Performance
Broke down while digging.
Winners
