Mars Rovers Update

[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.