Finalist – NASA Regolith Advanced Surface Systems Operations Robot (RASSOR)
https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/KSC-TOPS-7
This design challenge aimed to redesign the excavator drum for the NASA RASSOR robot. The design criteria included weight and volume restrictions, carrying capacity, ability to break up regolith, etc.
My design included an asymmetrical digging profile with high infill percentage, ensuring that no regolith would be lost during carrying phase. I performed extensive simulations through DEM software.
4th place winner – Spacecraft Docking Adapter with a Flexible but Load-Bearing Floor
This challenge was to create a flexible, but load-bearing floor for use in both microgravity and gravity. The design will be used as part of a docking system that can articulate how to dock elements that are not perfectly aligned.
The system had to be able to perform yaw, pitch, roll maneuvers while remaining without large gaps. My design utilized scaffolding that handled movement and slats that lay over the scaffolding to create a walkable surface. I tested the system using motion simulation and load bearing analysis to ensure it matched design criteria.
