Advanced Multimodal Planetary Surface Exploration for Scientific CanBots

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About this Event

Engineering Technology Center , 315

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Carrington Chun

(Advisor: Dr. Muhammad Hassan Tanveer)

will propose a doctoral thesis entitled,

Advanced Multimodal Planetary Surface Exploration for Scientific CanBots

On

Wednesday, November 11th at 2:00 PM

Engineering Technology Center, Room Q315

Abstract

Planetary surface exploration remains one of the great challenges for robotic vehicles, as environments found on other planets are often rough, unstructured, and unpredictable. However, in Humanity’s continuing endeavor to explore strange new worlds and seek answers to questions such as if life exists beyond earth, adaptable and capable mobility solutions are required to boldly go where humankind cannot. This research first establishes a novel robotic system, known as the CanBot, to act as a terrestrial analogue for small-scale planetary surface rovers. The CanBot addresses a relevant technology gap created by the miniaturization of planetary surface rovers and the need to develop flight heritage for space-bound systems. Through the vector of CanBots, this research also develops a novel space-oriented Multimodal Mobility system. Historically, planetary surface mobility has consisted of the springless Rocker-Bogie suspension system for wheeled ground-based locomotion. In more recent history, the first aerial helicopter was flown on Mars establishing the only precedent for powered flight on other planets. Through the novel combination of both an aerial propeller-based locomotion system and a modified version of the terrestrial Rocker-Bogie system, a unique mechanism for exploring the surface of other planets will be demonstrated. Such a system will be able to travel faster and farther than typical terrestrial vehicles, while still demonstrating the precise and deft movement afforded by a terrestrial robot. The proposed locomotive approach will also attempt to demonstrate hybrid modalities where CanBots will be able to climb extreme inclines beyond what classical wheeled robots can handle.

Committee

Dr. Muhammad Hassan Tanveer - Kennesaw State University, Department of Mechanical Engineering (advisor)
Dr. Junaid Zubairi - State University of New York at Fredonia, Department of Computer and Information Sciences
Dr. Sumit Chakravarty - Kennesaw State University, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Dr. David Guerra-Zubiaga - Kennesaw State University, Department of Mechatronics Engineering
Dr. Muhammad Salman - Kennesaw State University, Department of Mechanical Engineering