Mars Rover Mobility System Optimization
Project Type: MSc Dissertation
Role: Research, Simulation, and Design
Overview
As part of my MSc in Advanced Product Design and Manufacturing, I developed a 1:6 scale model of a Mars rover to explore improvements in mobility system performance — with a specific focus on navigating challenging planetary terrain.
Approach
To assess potential enhancements, I ran four distinct simulations:
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
Slope angle performance
Ground surface contact area
Ground clearance impact
All findings were validated through comparison with published research and mobility data from NASA and JPL, including a recreation of the Opportunity rover’s original configuration (used between 2004–2018).
Outcome
Simulation results showed a 112% improvement in performance compared to the Opportunity rover’s original mobility design. While the findings are theoretical and simulation-based, they offer promising insights into the future of rover mobility on uneven extraterrestrial surfaces.
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Full Assembly with Constraints of the CAD Model
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Wheel Design 1 (Opportunity Rover Wheel)
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Wheel Design 2 (Conditions of Moon Rover Wheels)
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Wheel Design 3 (Concept Suspension in Wheel Design)
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Axle Design 1 (Opportunity Rover Axle)
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Axle Design 2 (Concept Double Bogie Design)
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Axle Desing 3 (Mechanial Hydraulic Design)
FMEA of Axle Design 1
FMEA of Axle Design 2
FMEA of Axle Design 3