IMProVe 2011 - Proceedings

Design Methods and Applications
Talence Cedex, FRANCE.
Design of a device for stability control system,
to decouple loads,
for an optimised maintenance in hostile environment
R. Ambu (a), C. Falchi (a), A. Manuello Bertetto (a)
(a) Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Cagliari, Italy
Abstract:
Purpose:
Among the primary objectives in future space missions, the building of lunar bases has a
growing attention. For this reason, beside the lunar rovers allocated to the exploration
missions, lunar vehicles assigned to working missions have to be considered.
In this paper the design of a particular device developed for the lifting mechanism of a
worker rover, is reported. The main task of this rover is to clear areas of the lunar soil
allocated to the building of lunar bases.
Method:
Parametric modelling and numerical simulations were used to obtain compact geometries
of the components and assess the structural behaviour of the most significant under
extreme operating conditions.
Result:
The components of the device, relative in particular to the transmission mechanism, were
developed for an optimal operating of the vehicle as concerns the stability control and the
correct operating of the linear actuator under load, keeping into account at the same time
the peculiar characteristics of the hostile lunar environment.
Discussion & Conclusion:
The optimally designed device, thanks to replaceable components, allows to recover an
efficient system after long working periods. The introduction of the device in a prototype
rover will allow to define the performance of the proposed arrangement.
Keywords: design, worker rover, hostile environment
Corresponding Author: Rita Ambu
Tel.:+396755709
Fax.:+396755717
e-mail: ambu@iris.unica.it
Address: Piazza d’Armi, 09123 Cagliari, Italy.
June 15 th – 17 th , 2011, Venice, Italy
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IMProVe 2011 - Proceedings