Table of Contents
Reentry Rover 1
2024
Abstract
The objective of this assignment was to develop a remote-control rover and aeroshell system to be launched on a booster developed by another senior design team. As per the requirements, the rover must be capable of traversing 50 meters, capture a video recording of the environment on the ground, and be able to deploy from the aeroshell five seconds after deployment from the booster at 100 meters. To satisfy these requirements, a lightweight 3D printed aeroshell was developed to house and protect the rover system. The electronic system consisted of a Raspberry Pi Pico to serve as the rover's computer, a L298N motor controller to control the direction and throttle of the DC motors attached to the wheels, an HM01B0 Arducam Camera module to take pictures, an R8EF receiver to control the deployment from the aeroshell and motor controls, and an SD card to store pictures for video processing. The typical mission profile can be seen on the left, and it is made up of 7 stages: Load into booster, rocket launch, aeroshell ejection at 100 m, free fall in aeroshell, Rover ejection and parachute deployment, descent to ground, and Rover operations.
Project Details
Design, build, and test a rover & protective aeroshell system that will be launched from a booster rocket. The rover must fit in the aeroshell, and the aeroshell must interface with the rocket and fit within it. The rover must stay in the aeroshell for at least five seconds after deployment. After reaching the ground, the rover must traverse 50m using solar power, and take videos of its environment while being controlled remotely.
Project Objective
Create a re-entry rover that will use commercially off the shelf products within a budget of $5000 over the next 3.5 months.
Mission Needs
Launch off another team's rocket, successfully land on Mars like terrain, and traverse 50m.
