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US 12,157,984 B2Granted
Systems and methods for a multi-modal screw propelled excavation
AssigneeArizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
InventorsHamidreza Marvi, Andrew Thoesen, Marko Green, Justin Martia
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-modal screw propelled excavation system for small body sample collection includes a craft having screw-shaped wheels to traverse the surface of the target body. When the craft is ready to collect a sample, the craft opens a door to an excavation bin on a bottom face of the craft, and uses the screw-shaped wheels to churn up regolith which is captured by closing the door.
Claims15
A multi-modal excavation system comprising:
- a craft comprising:
- a housing including an opening formed along a bottom portion of the housing;
- an excavation ramp in communication with the opening of the housing, the excavation ramp oriented towards a front side of the craft, wherein the excavation ramp accommodates passive collection of a material up the excavation ramp towards a rear side of the craft opposite the front side and into an interior of the housing;
- and
- a plurality of wheels, each wheel of the plurality of wheels being operatively engaged with a motor of a plurality of motors and a drivetrain mounted along the housing, each of the plurality of wheels defining a screw configuration and including a blade portion that accommodates screw-driven mobility of the craft and the collection of the material along a target surface in a low gravity environment;
- the plurality of wheels including a first wheel along a left-hand side of the housing and a second wheel along a right-hand side of the housing, wherein a blade portion of the first wheel defines a left-hand thread and wherein a blade portion of the second wheel defines a right-hand thread;
- wherein rotation of the first wheel in a counterclockwise rotational direction and rotation of the second wheel in a clockwise rotational direction causes the craft to move in a forward direction and generates angular momentum that directs material from underneath the first wheel and the second wheel towards the rear side of the craft into the interior of the housing when the craft is in a low-gravity environment.
4 more elements
A multi-modal excavation system, comprising:
- a craft comprising:
- a housing including an opening formed along the housing;
- an excavation ramp in communication with the opening of the housing, wherein the excavation ramp accommodates passive collection of a material up the excavation ramp and into an interior of the housing;
- and
- a plurality of wheels mounted along the housing, each of the plurality of wheels defining a screw configuration and including a blade portion that accommodates screw-driven mobility of the craft;
- the plurality of wheels including a first wheel along a left-hand side of the housing and a second wheel along a right-hand side of the housing, wherein a blade portion of the first wheel defines a left-hand thread and wherein a blade portion of the second wheel defines a right-hand thread;
- wherein rotation of the first wheel in a counterclockwise rotational direction and rotation of the second wheel in a clockwise rotational direction causes the craft to move in a forward direction and generates angular momentum that directs material from underneath the first wheel and the second wheel into the interior of the housing when the craft is in a low-gravity environment.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.