ROVER WHEELS: Monitoring changes over time, NOTE: Read back through the thread to avoid repeating misconceptions |
ROVER WHEELS: Monitoring changes over time, NOTE: Read back through the thread to avoid repeating misconceptions |
May 16 2013, 08:35 AM
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Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 22 Joined: 10-August 12 From: Australia Member No.: 6530 |
[MOD NOTE: This thread follows on a post by Ed Truthan containing a MAHLI mosaic of MSL wheels taken on sol 275.]
Ed: zooming in on that marvellous underbelly MAHLI montage, there appears to be further (and previously noted) deformation of the wheel surfaces. Damage is most evident in the view of the front-left wheel inner surface. Such wear has previously been discussed and concerns allayed. Nevertheless, the front left wheel surface *appears* to have been punctured. We've only done 700 meters, and have 7000 more to get to Mt Sharp..... Given that more odometry has now accumulated, is any (re-)new(ed) concern valid? DeanM |
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Nov 30 2013, 08:55 AM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 255 Joined: 28-October 12 Member No.: 6732 |
It would be interesting to know what other wheel options and materials they considered. What role has the function as the landing gear pads played in the wheel design?
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Nov 30 2013, 01:01 PM
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#3
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Member Group: Members Posts: 153 Joined: 4-May 11 From: Pardubice, CZ Member No.: 5979 |
It would be interesting to know what other wheel options and materials they considered. I'm wondering what is the weight penalty by 2nd set of VSTB wheels with doubled skin thickness. I guess that using 1,5 mm thick skin instead of 0,75 mm actually used on Mars would eliminate most of wear we see, stop all timorous comments around and would not hurt total rover mass budget significantly. ... maybe for Mars rover 2020. |
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Nov 30 2013, 08:13 PM
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14434 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
and would not hurt total rover mass budget significantly. Well - the wheel rim itself would way about twice as much. I've held one. They're not 'heavy' but there's certainly a few KG's in there. And you're forgetting - compliance in the wheel is one of the design requirements to take the edge of impacts as wheels drop off rocks etc. Making it 'stronger' just so it doesn't get holes in it ( holes that don't matter ) could very well be counter productive. Why would you change the design for 2020. They work. They work great. There's nothing whatsoever to suggest they're going to stop working. Why would you invest a second of time, energy, or money - or mass budget - in making them unnecessarily heavier? |
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