May 24, 2011

Rover Prototype Update

The team at Tohoku University are making steady progress on the construction of the rover prototype. The picture below shows the suspension integrated to the body frame.


The wheels are now being made from acyclic polymer tube and will be attached next week.

Probably due to the Sendai Earthquake, there have been some serious delays with the manufacturer of the new camera and the laser range finder, but the delivery of those components is expected next month.

First demonstrations of the rover prototype are scheduled for July, with some significant software progress by September. The rover will be ready to perform a mock-GLXP mission on Earth by the end of this year.

Work will then continue through 2012 on the rest of the software, navigation strategies, verification of the wheel configuration and installation of all electronic systems.

***

Related Posts :