Hypothesized Surface: Robotic Explorer – Michigan Tech
INSTITUTION
Michigan Tech
CLASS
Nickel Class (2020 – 2021)
STUDENT TEAM
Alex Fuja, Computer Engineering
Ethan Fisher, Mechanical Engineering
Jared Wohlford, Mechanical Engineering
Matt Juzwiak, Mechanical Engineering
Rebecca (Becca) Held, Electrical Engineering
Tommy Childers, Engineering Management (ASU)
ACADEMIC GUIDANCE
Dr. Joe Juarez, Lecturer, School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering, ASU
Dr. Fei Long, Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering (Engineering Mechanics), Michigan Tech
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The NASA Psyche Mission is set to launch in 2022 and arrive at the asteroid in 2026. It is an orbiter mission and will not land on the surface. It is possible to imagine, however, that after learning about Psyche from orbit, there may be scientists and engineers interested in proposing a subsequent mission to actually land on the asteroid to explore its surface. Considering the range of hypothesized surfaces that might be found at Psyche (along with other constraints such as its gravity), the team designed a robotic explorer capable of efficiently traversing each of the hypothesized surfaces and able to adapt to each of them mid-traverse. Hypothesized surfaces at Psyche may include: mostly flat metallic surface, flat metallic with metal and/or rocky debris, rough/high-relief metallic and/or rocky terrain, high-relief metallic crater walls.