MaCRo Prototype
Teams were asked to design a prototype Mars Cargo Rover which could navigate on a set path over rough terrain and several obstacles while carrying a specified payload. The prototype must then deposit the cargo at a designated site. Prototype designs used the LEGO system, Raspberry Pi's, and the Python programming language.
Throughout this project, I specialized in two key areas: prototyping and physical analysis. In order to develop a design for the Mars Cargo Rover, or MaCRo, I created multiple iterations of each mechanism and sub-assembly, from the wheel base to the package deposit system. After each iteration of the design, I would perform tests and comparisons with the previous, and make alternative designs or changes as required. I frequently employed the use of decision matrices to ensure that my choices were unbiased and incorporated each testing parameter into my decisions consistently across iterations.
​
After finalizing the design, I then created a series of physical analysis tests on the performance of the prototype under different circumstances. Some tests included traversing different obstacles, finding the maximum scalable incline, and precision of cargo deposit. Finally, I worked alongside my team members to discuss the scaling of the prototype into a full scale mars rover, capable of delivering habitat cargo from landing sites to research bases. Using current technology, we projected the capabilities of our prototype into a reasonable assumption of large scale performance.
Excerpts from a slide deck which I created and presented