So you want to mine the moon?B. Damer, D. Rasmussen, P. Newman, R.
NorkusDigitalSpace Corporation, Santa Cruz CA
CAD/CAM design simulation for sandbox prototyping
Colorado School of MinesPrototype Lunar Bucket Wheel
Excavator
CAD/CAM design simulation for sandbox prototyping
DigitalSpace Lunar analog simulation of
BWE
• Crater Rim (Sunlight Area) Exploration– Imaging of site from surface—time data
collection to correlate with LRO orbital images of same conditions (pan every 2 hours over 1 year)
– Geotechnical properties of lunar regolith (bearing strength, soil composition, cohesiveness, block and slope populations)
– Biological effects of radiation, reduced gravity over 1 year
• Crater Floor (Dark Area) Exploration– Physical environment and geotechnical
properties (temperatures, soil characteristics, etc.)
– Examine both surface and subsurface of cold trap region
– Volatile deposits: elemental and molecular composition, species abundance, physical state, distribution and extent; number of samples from varied locations in crater floor; locations and settings documented
– Requires extended time (at least 2 weeks) and traverse range (at least 100 km) within dark crater interior (cold trap)
Find the Light
Touch the Ice
RLEP 2 – Robotic Lunar Exploration ProgramGoals
RLEP2 Pre-Phase A
RLEP2 Pre-Phase A:November:
APL PresentationsHuntsville Kick-off
TeamX, JPL: Dec 12-15th
RLEP2 Pre-Phase A mission design challengeLunar south pole: Cold traps in permanently shadowed craters. 12-
20 samples at 1-2m depth, test for volatiles, water ice.
Nominal Target: Shackleton19 km complex impact craterSteep interior slopes 25-35°Interior walls loose materialRough floorEratosthenian ageIce distribution may be heterogenous
Dawes Crater
Lunar Analog to ShackletonElevation map producedby measurements team
Direct versus “spiral” traverse into the crater
Digital Spaces Platform ArchitectureAcknowledgements and Resources
Industrial strength vertical applications in robotics, space, mining/construction, training, outreach/educationHigh performance 3D graphics, cross platformPhysics, CAD, collaborative and synchronized simulationMulti-user, streams, research & outreach functions“Linux” of 3D, LGPL licensed for commercial applications
DSS Open Source Framework
DigitalSpace DSS
Modular Plug-in
Architecture
Thanks!
DigitalSpace: www.digitalspace.comProject homepage/download the sims: www.digitalspace.com/projects/lunar-robotics/Digital Spaces Codebase: www.digitalspaces.org
Contact: Bruce Damer, President and [email protected](831) 338 9400, mobile: (831) 331 5812
Resources and contact
