Emitter array for a lunar rover
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsSatendra S. Guru, Felipe Cuellar-Ferreira, Babak Makkinejad, Maria Rossana Ruiz, Douglas James Spry
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Abstract
A lunar rover includes a lunar rover body, at least one wheel coupled with the lunar rover body, a drive module coupled with the at least one wheel, the drive module configured to drive rotation of the at least one wheel over a surface, an extension arm coupled to the lunar rover body, an emitter array coupled to the extension arm, and a controller electrically connected with the emitter array. The controller is configured to control the emitter array to emit at least one of laser electromagnetic waves or maser electromagnetic waves towards the surface to sinter lunar regolith particles on the surface.
Claims15
A lunar rover comprising:
- a lunar rover body;
- at least one wheel coupled with the lunar rover body;
- a drive module coupled with the at least one wheel, the drive module configured to drive rotation of the at least one wheel over a surface;
- an extension arm coupled to the lunar rover body;
- an emitter array coupled to the extension arm;
- a lidar sensor coupled with the extension arm, the lidar sensor configured to emit light signals and measure reflected light that returns to the lidar sensor;
- and
- a controller electrically connected with the emitter array, the controller configured to,
- control the emitter array to emit at least one of laser electromagnetic waves or maser electromagnetic waves towards the surface to sinter lunar regolith particles on the surface,
- determine a distance from the emitter array to the surface according to reflected light that returns to the lidar sensor;
- and
- adjust a power level of the emitter array according to the distance from the emitter array to the surface.
A lunar rover emitter array apparatus comprising:
- an emitter array configured to couple with an extension arm of a lunar rover body;
- a detector element configured to detect an amount of lunar regolith particles on a surface over which the lunar rover body travels;
- and
- a controller electrically connected with the emitter array and the detection element, wherein the controller is configured to:
- determine whether the amount of lunar regolith particles detected by the detection element is greater than a sinter threshold value;
- in response to the amount of lunar regolith particles being greater than the sinter threshold value, activate the emitter array to emit at least one of laser electromagnetic waves or maser electromagnetic waves towards the surface to sinter lunar regolith particles on the surface;
- and
- in response to the amount of lunar regolith particles being less than the sinter threshold value, deactivate the emitter array to avoid sintering the lunar regolith particles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.