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Unread 02-03-2009, 11:04
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Re: possible solution to the static problem

I don't know how much it would affect traction, or if it would at all as the spray's viscosity is almost the same as water and it dries without leaving any sort of residue or film on the rover wheel plastic.

As I said in my first post you could also spray it on the more sensitive parts of your electronics and control board to reduce the likelihood of releasing the magic smoke.

The issue is is that the regolith sheets are over carpet and when you drive a robot over it the floor works like a capacitor, storing the charge until it builds up to the point of catastrophic discharge. At the Manchester Regional the field crew's solution was to spray water on the field to dampen the static, but I think that having water and electronics that close is asking for trouble plus it makes the field dangerous for people to walk on.