Lunar robot readied for Nasa contest

[integra]

Brac University students have made the nation's first lunar robot which will compete with robots made by famous universities across the world for Nasa's Annual Lunabotics Mining Competition, 2011.

The students are giving the final touches to BRACU Chondrobot, a lunar excavation robot made of recycled car parts, tin, alloy and rubber.

Nasa through this competition is looking for clever ideas and solutions which it can use later for lunar excavation. The robotics design to win the first prize would be used in future Nasa expeditions.

“This is the first time the competition invited international participants and we are delighted to represent Bangladesh in the competition,” said Khalilur Rahman, faculty adviser to the project, while speaking at a demonstration programme at the university yesterday.

“But the competition will be fierce,” said Khalilur, also an assistant professor at the department of computer science and engineering. “The competition will have entries from 46 nations, including Harvard University, Virgina Tech, University of Illinois, McGill University, among others.”

An eight-member team of Brac University, led by Shiblee Imtiaz Hasan and Jonayet Hossain designed BRACU Chondrobot.

The remote-controlled robot, weighing 75kg, is designed to travel on rough lunar surface, collect soil samples and carry them to lunar shuttles for examination.

“We have analysed past successes and failures to see what works and what does not, and this is the result,” said Shiblee Imtiaz Hasan.

“It is controlled via WiFi and has a simple, yet efficient and reliable, tele-robotic design that will be useful for lunar excavation,” Shiblee told The Daily Star.

It is not space-ready yet and the prices of the parts used for making the robot add up to Tk 35,000, he said.

Speaking as chief guest, Brac Chairperson Sir Fazle Hasan Abed congratulated the students and urged them not to get disheartened if they do not win the first prize.

Brac University Vice-Chancellor Prof Ainun Nishat chaired the programme.

 

[TopCat]

nahhh.. its not gonna hold.

 

[TopCat]

The design itself is flawed. Too slender and will tipped over on the rough surface. Did they take into count that the gravitational force is way less in the moon?

 

[integra]

The design itself is flawed. Too slender and will tipped over on the rough surface. Did they take into count that the gravitational force is way less in the moon?

Yea, the CG looks a bit high thus making it top Heavy, though the chainsaw
like gears and pinions are looking wicked. Anyways decent job for Brac .
Hope they are using PIC or suitable military grade micrcontrollers.

 

[fallstuff]

You gotta start somewhere !!

 

[eastwatch]

You gotta start somewhere !!

Yes, we have to start somewhere, that is important. When considered the weight of the bucket, it sees the vertical Center of Gravity lies somewhere near middle. It should be brought down within the 1/3rd from bottom. Then it is stable.

There seems to be a two leg system, but is supported by another, which, if true, is good for balance. However, the 3rd leg, as assumed by me should be flexible like a spring so that it can move ups and downs when it hits a stone or a cavity.

 

[eastwatch]

Yes, we have to start somewhere, that is important. When considered the weight of the bucket, it sees the vertical Center of Gravity lies somewhere near middle. It should be brought down within the 1/3rd from bottom. Then it is stable.

There seems to be a two leg system, but is supported by another, which, if true, is good for balance. However, the 3rd leg, as assumed by me should be flexible like a spring so that it can move ups and downs when it hits a stone or a cavity.

Read 'four-leg system' instead of 'two leg system.'

 

[Obambam]

It looks like a cheap version of 'Number 5' from John Badham's 80's hit 'Short Circuit'.

 

[Zabaniyah]

Well, its a start at least.

To be honest, that thing looks like as if it can fall off easily. Lunar and Martian terrain are not too pretty. Best to work on robots with legs in my opinion ^^

Space related projects are important to all nations. Everyone should start somewhere.

 

[Avisheik]

Considering our lack of expertise in this field and budget constrains of our local universities i would say it's a decent effort. Best of luck to the brac university team

 

[kobiraaz]

i don't think it is that slender. . The photo was taken from side. . .

 

[kingkobra]

I have seen such robots in IIT robot war competitions..
Wont bet on it but its a good thing that at least they have taken initiative..

 

[integra]

Yes, we have to start somewhere, that is important. When considered the weight of the bucket, it sees the vertical Center of Gravity lies somewhere near middle. It should be brought down within the 1/3rd from bottom. Then it is stable.

There seems to be a two leg system, but is supported by another, which, if true, is good for balance. However, the 3rd leg, as assumed by me should be flexible like a spring so that it can move ups and downs when it hits a stone or a cavity.

One wonders if our military would sponsor such students, that way both enjoys a jolly ride.It seems this robot is just a push button type toy without any artificial intelligence.

Except may be some temperature,vibration and gravity feedback to keep the system in sync. There were some trials in BUET recently in various robot competitions using PIC microprocessors. The Japanese were stunned and curious about how one created those stuffs out of narayanganj and dholakhal markets.

 

[shiblee]

As you know that it has been developed in Bangladesh. Here, the biggest challenge is to get the right components. This robot was basically built from scrap components like used car wiper motor, bike chain (used to be rickshaw chain in previous design). Moreover, this thing was built by a few electrical/computer science students with completely no technical knowledge in Mechanical Engineering. If you take all of these into account, the students did solve an engineering puzzle.

Regarding the CG, the base is the heaviest keeping the CG low. The lunar regolith simulant (to be used by NASA) is of low density and the depositor bucket is made from very thin sheet of steel.

 

[IndianArmy]

I just checked the NASA webpage, And to My Astonishment 7 Indian Robots have been Selected

NASA - Lunabotics Mining Competition