Title:
Reduced gravity flights to study Lunar wheel-soil interactions
Agreement Number:
19FACONB28
Agreement Value:
$33,220.00
Agreement Date:
Mar 27, 2020 - Mar 31, 2021
Description:
The terrains of Mars and the Moon consist of fine granular regolith with embedded rocks. The entrapment of the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit in soft regolith and the tears and punctures in the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover's wheels demonstrate some of the current mobility challenges of extraterrestrial granular terrains. Understanding the nature of interactions with granular terrains is thus crucial to exploring these high priority destinations.
This project aims to advance robot mobility in granular terrains, through studying the effects of reduced gravity on wheel-soil interactions. A crucial long-term contribution of such experimental work is the development and validation of models and/or on-Earth soil simulants general enough to eventually supplant the need to fly reduced-gravity campaigns for each new wheel/soil/gravity configuration. Such reduced-gravity rover soil testing apparatus could provide an experimentation infrastructure for Canadian companies to test, validate, and raise the technology readiness level of wheels for any planned Lunar or Martian rovers.
This research will contribute to Canada being at the cutting-edge of planetary rover research, to maintaining its global position of leadership in space robotics, and to inspiring the next generation of Canadians to reach for the stars.
Organization:
Canadian Space Agency
Expected Results:
The Research component of the program provides financial support to organizations to conduct space related research and development in priority areas. It will support targeted knowledge development and innovation to sustain and enhance the Canadian capacity to use space to address national needs and priorities in the future.
Location:
Montreal, Quebec, CA H3G 2J1
Reference Number:
003-2020-2021-Q1-04460
Report Type:
Grants and Contributions
Additional Information:
The amount allocated covers only one fiscal year.
Late Disclosure
Recipient's Legal Name:
Concordia University
Program:
Class Grant and Contribution Program to Support Research, Awareness and Learning in Space Science and Technology
Program Purpose:
This program supports knowledge development and innovation in the CSA's priority areas while increasing the awareness and participation of Canadians in space-related disciplines and activities.
The Research Component aims to support the development of science and technology; foster the continual development of a critical mass of researchers and highly qualified people in Canada; and support information gathering and space-related studies and research pertaining to Canadian Space Agency priorities.