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Mechanical design engineering. NASA/university advanced design program: Lunar Bulk Material Transport VehicleThe design of a Lunar Bulk Material Transport Vehicle (LBMTV) is discussed. Goals set in the project include a payload of 50 cubic feet of lunar soil with a lunar of approximately 800 moon-pounds, a speed of 15 mph, and the ability to handle a grade of 20 percent. Thermal control, an articulated steering mechanism, a dump mechanism, a self-righting mechanism, viable power sources, and a probable control panel are analyzed. The thermal control system involves the use of small strip heaters to heat the housing of electronic equipment in the absence of sufficient solar radiation and multi-layer insulation during periods of intense solar radiation. The entire system uses only 10 W and weighs about 60 pounds, or 10 moon-pounds. The steering mechanism is an articulated steering joint at the center of the vehicle. It utilizes two actuators and yields a turning radius of 10.3 feet. The dump mechanism rotates the bulk material container through an angle of 100 degree using one actuator. The self-righting mechanism consists of two four bar linkages, each of which is powered by the same size actuator as the other linkages. The LBMTV is powered by rechargeable batteries. A running time of at least two hours is attained under a worst case analysis. The weight of the batteries is 100 pounds. A control panel consisting of feedback and control instruments is described. The panel includes all critical information necessary to control the vehicle remotely. The LBMTV is capable of handling many types of cargo. It is able to interface with many types of removable bulk material containers. These containers are made to interface with the three-legged walker, SKITTER. The overall vehicle is about 15 feet in length and has a weight of about 1000 pounds, or 170 lunar pounds.
Document ID
19900015139
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
Daugherty, Paul (Georgia Inst. of Tech. Atlanta, GA, United States)
Griner, Stewart (Georgia Inst. of Tech. Atlanta, GA, United States)
Hendrix, Alan (Georgia Inst. of Tech. Atlanta, GA, United States)
Makarov, Chris (Georgia Inst. of Tech. Atlanta, GA, United States)
Martiny, Stephen (Georgia Inst. of Tech. Atlanta, GA, United States)
Meyhoefer, Douglas Ralph (Georgia Inst. of Tech. Atlanta, GA, United States)
Platt, Cody Claxton (Georgia Inst. of Tech. Atlanta, GA, United States)
Sivak, John (Georgia Inst. of Tech. Atlanta, GA, United States)
Wheeler, Elizabeth Fitch (Georgia Inst. of Tech. Atlanta, GA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 1988
Subject Category
Engineering (General)
Report/Patent Number
ME-4182
NASA-CR-184926
NAS 1.26:184926
Report Number: ME-4182
Report Number: NASA-CR-184926
Report Number: NAS 1.26:184926
Accession Number
90N24455
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGT-21-002-800
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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