The adaptability of a flexible rover that can travel long distances and rappel down hard-to-reach regions of scientific interest was shown in a field test in California's Mojave Desert.
DuAxel is a pair of Axel robots intended to investigate crater walls, pits, scarps, vents, and other severe environments on the moon, Mars, and beyond.
- The robot's capacity to split in half and dispatch one of its parts - a two-wheeled Axle robot - down an otherwise impassable hill is shown in this technological demonstration produced at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.
- The rappelling Axel may then seek out regions to research on its own, securely navigate slopes and rough barriers, and return to dock with its other half before traveling to a new location.
- Although the rover does not yet have a mission, essential technologies are being developed that might one day assist mankind in exploring the solar system's stony planets and moons.
DuAxel is a development of the Axel system, a flexible series of single-axle rovers meant to traverse high-risk terrain on planetary surfaces, such as steep slopes, boulder fields, and caverns — locations that existing rovers, such as Mars Curiosity, would find difficult or impossible to approach.
DuAxel's Advantages:
To cover greater distances, two connected Axel Rovers are used:
- DuAxel travels large distances by connecting two Axel rovers.
- They divide in two when they approach a steep slope or cliff so that one tied Axel may rappel down the steep danger to reach otherwise inaccessible area while the other works as an anchor at the top of the slope.
Tether that can be retracted:
- The Axel rover can lower itself down practically any sort of terrain by reeling and unreeling its built-in rope.
Greater Maneuverability:
- The two-wheeled axle simply spins one of its wheels quicker than the other to turn.
- The core cylinder between the wheels houses the sensors, actuators, electronics, power, and payload.
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You may also want to read more about Space Exploration and Space Systems here.
References & Further Reading:
JPL Robotics: The Axel Rover System
Educational Resources:
Student Project: Design a Robotic Insect.
Educator Guide: Design a Robotic Insect.
