Mars Rovers Update

[KenWittlief]

Originally Posted by artdutra04

Spirit and Opportunity are just incredible pieces of engineering, lasting 855 and 834 days respectively on Mars, and still going. And to think that their designed lifespan was only 90 days.

I seem to recall that the design team fessed-up on this. The project mission was only 90 days, but they knowingly overdesigned the system so it would last much longer.

Engineering philosophy learned from Scotty!

[DUCKIE]

I figure this is the best spot to put this...

I was lucky enough (Yay for being Space Camp staff!!! & having the day off.) to get into to an early screening of the new IMAX movie "Roving Mars" yesterday. I rather liked it... (but I AM biased.) However, I think the kids will enjoy it too. It follows the building and transport of the twin rovers to Mars... then speaks/shows some of their travels.

I was hoping to see you on the big-screen Dave! as I've already caught a glimpse of you in one of the little looped movies in the museum. I think the people sitting around me in the theater got a good laugh as I must have been mumbleing "where is dave?... is that dave?....oooh ooooh?" But have no fear movie-goers there are a few good (but short) shots where you can pick out Dave in the JPL mission control durring the rover's landing on Mars.

(Just don't be looking for Dave in one of his hawaiian shirts... as he's undercover in civies.)

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

they knowingly overdesigned the system so it would last much longer.

You know, that makes me wonder: What does everyone think is the weakest link (system) in the rovers, the one that is expected to fail first and effectively disable the robot? This would be a system that just couldn't be made more robust, (almost) regardless of cost.

I think it would be the batteries. At a certain point, there's little one can do to increase their lifespan.

I would be quite surprised if they didn't know the answer already - maybe Dave can chime in after we have a few guesses...

Don

[EDIT]: The point being, of course, for FIRST students to learn something from the exercise and do a rough & dirty MTTF evaluation of next year's underwater robot...[/EDIT]

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by Don Rotolo

You know, that makes me wonder: What does everyone think is the weakest link (system) in the rovers, the one that is expected to fail first and effectively disable the robot? This would be a system that just couldn't be made more robust, (almost) regardless of cost.

I think it would be the batteries. At a certain point, there's little one can do to increase their lifespan.

I would be quite surprised if they didn't know the answer already - maybe Dave can chime in after we have a few guesses...

Don

[EDIT]: The point being, of course, for FIRST students to learn something from the exercise and do a rough & dirty MTTF evaluation of next year's underwater robot...[/EDIT]

I'm going to take a highly unqualified guess and say that the drivetrain will be what disables the robot. Spirit's already down a wheel, and what I've read on the NASA site seems to indicate that losing it is a significant setback. (I'm picturing a FIRST robot throwing a chain, but on a grander, no-pit-areas-or-time-outs-for-you scale.)

Granted, you can still get good science from a crippled or stationary robot (as Spirit is demonstrating now while it winters over), but it certainly would put the brakes on searching for any other points of interest.