1. Project title: IntelligentMars Rover Development.
Team Structure:
Team Leader: Ashraful Alam, EECE-13
Vice Leaders:
1. Technical vice leader:Arif Mahmud,CSE-15
2. Managing vice leader:Farhan Hasan, NSE-01
3. Financial vice deader:Mirza, EWCE-01
Other members:
1. MD. ShabbirHossain,EECE-13
2. Mahfujul IslamAkash,CSE-14
3. Nazmul Hasan,AE
4. Shawon,AE
5. Muaz, CSE-14
6. MalihaMaliat, EECE-12
7. RubaiyaKabirPranti,EECE-13
Executive summary:
Worldwide RoverchallengeRoboticscompetition“UniversityRover Challenge”takesplaceeveryyear
at Mars DesertResearchStation(MDRS) nearHanksville,Utah,USA. It is consideredas a well-known
andveryrespective competitionall overtheworld. Universitiesfromdifferentcountriesparticipatein
this competition to show their excellence on the spatial field and bring new ideas to solve many
problems that a rover encounters during its space travel on other planets. These new ideas to
approach differentproblemsare observedbyscientists fromNASA,RKA,ESA etc. so that theycan be
implemented on future rovers. MIST has been participating in the competition every year and has
broughtgreatachievements overthe years.Thisyeardepartmentof NuclearScience andEngineering
(NSE) of MilitaryInstitute of Scienceand Technology(MIST) isdevelopingitsexpertise incuttingedge
world standard rover technology by engineering an intelligent rover that is capable of solving all the
tasks proposed by URC organization using the latest image processing technology that will helpthe
rover decide itself on the fieldand execute its operation or suggest remote controllersaccording to
context. This rover should be capable of doing-
Science Cache Task:
The goal is to collect samples at sites selected in the field, perform basic science
evaluation of these samples with onboard instrumentation, and store at least one sample
in a cache for further scientific analysis. A single or multiple sites can be sampled. Sites
shall be analyzed for their likelihood to support microbial life using the geological
context such as evidence of water flow, minerals present and soil structure.
2. Astronaut Assistance:
Rover shall be required to collect multiple objects left in the field and deliver/deploy
them to multiple locations throughout the field. All items to be delivered will need to
be picked up in the field by the rover. The location and description of equipment will
be given in GPS coordinates to within 3m.
Equipment Servicing Task:
Rovers shall be required to perform several dexterous operations on a mock-up
equipment system.
The rover shall have to travel up to 0.25km across relatively flat terrain (minimal slope)
to reach the equipment. The equipment servicing task will involve performing
maintenance on a generator which may include the following sub-tasks:
Connect a carabiner to a wagon containing a fuel can and use it to tow the
wagon to the generator. The wagon will have a U-hook at least 1” in diameter
and no more than 0.25” thick, to which the carabiner can be connected. Teams
should provide the tow rope and carabiner.
Flip open a cap on the fuel tank.
Pour the fuel (ethanol simulated by dyed water or simulated magnesium
powder) into the tank. Tank opening will be no higher than 0.5m from the
ground. Filled fuel can will weigh less than 2.5 kg.
Unscrew a regulator from a simulated empty O2 tank and screw onto a “full”
tank. Attaching screw fitting will be a DIN style collar approximately 1” in
diameter attached to a hose.
Start generator by pushing a button or flipping a switch
Verify operation by reading a message on a LCD display
Terrain Traversing Task:
Rover shall be required to traverse a variety of difficult terrains as part of an engineering
field test of the ruggedness and route-finding ability of the rovers. Terrain may include
soft sandy areas, rough stony areas, rock and boulder fields, vertical drops potentially
in excess of 0.5m, and steep slopes in excess of 60°. There is no limit placed on the
slopes or size of drops or boulders that may be encountered. Unlike the other tasks, this
task poses a significant hazard to the rovers, and teams may want to weigh the risk vs.
reward before attempting some of the obstacles, especially early in the competition.
The current projectaimsto showcase the roverat upcomingUniversityRoverChallenge 2016 and
winthe firstposition.
3. Objectives:
1. Designinganenergyefficientandintelligent rover
2. Engineeringaroveraccordingto design
3. Making rovercapable of performing“Science Cache Task”
4. Making rovercapable of doing“AstronautAssistance”
5. Making rovercapable of executing“EquipmentServicingTask”
6. Making rovercapable of accomplishing“TerrainTraversingTask”
7. Fieldtestingthe rover
8. Presentingthe roverinupcomingUniversityRoverChallenge 2016
Expectedoutcome:
The existing rover projects are to be optimizedby using intelligent approach under this project. The
resultsare to be utilizedbyBangladeshSpace ResearchandRemote SensingOrganization(SPARRSO)
and otherspace researchcentersof differentcountriesfortheirfuture space exploration programs.
Technical Details:
Wheel tire:
1. Type: Mud terraintire (customized)
MobilitySystem:
1. Type:Regularrovermobilitysystem (Customized)
Motors:
1. Gear motor
2. Cylindermotor/Actuator
Main body:
1. Shape:Cuboid
2. Approximate Dimension: 36 inchx 22 inchx 10 inch
