HELP MY TEAM “SRM-EXPLOROVER” FROM CHENNAI GET TO THE  THE NASA “HUMAN  EXPLORATION ROVER CHALLENGE, 2018”

EXPLOROVER IS THE NAME OF MY TEAM: Our team has qualified to represent India for the ‘Human Exploration Rover Challenge, 2018’. We are raising funds to build our ROVER & want to make India proud by winning at this event. This will set a new paradigm for the Indian space research program.

EXPLOROVER – MORE ABOUT IT

ROVER – an automated motor vehicle that can propel itself across the surface of the moon, planets.. It helps the astronauts to traverse over the surface of other planetary bodies to collect data and samples easily and works even when they are lacking a source of energy.

Space has always been an ocean of never-ending discoveries, The NASA HUMAN EXPLORATION ROVER CHALLENGE encourages research and development of new technology for future mission planning and crewed space missions to other worlds.

Image of a ROVER. Pic courtesy NASA.

WHAT IS THE CHALLENGE ABOUT?

In this competition, students have to design a ROVER which is totally human powered. It has to carry two students, one female and one male, over a half-mile obstacle course of the simulated extraterrestrial terrain of craters, boulders and ridges, inclines, crevasses and depressions.

Our team is designing a ROVER which meets the requirements of the competition, is cost efficient, & has the strength & durability to complete the obstacle course.

Pic courtesy : NASA website

TAKING PART: ITS BENEFITS

The ROVER is a new technology in space research field that will bring about awareness amongst the youngsters towards space exploration. Our team’s participation and standing in this competition will not only benefit brand INDIA, but will also motivate the new generation towards this field of science. NASA organises this competition for exposure and awareness of space exploration across the world and to motivate students to present their innovative ideas.

These activities resolve mysteries about everything that surrounds the Universe. Through the exploration of space, we may discover resources that will help us in future – for example, minerals and rocks (Kirkland, 2010).

Space exploration brings together different people from various research in science fields and puts them to work on some very difficult problems. The result, in this case, is seen in useful inventions and discoveries. Thus, space exploration triggers technological advancement and is worth its cost because it benefits the people.

ABOUT ME:

Hey, I am Pritha Pal, currently studying BTech (2nd year) under the discipline of Aerospace Engineering in SRM Institute of Science and Technology. I am a domain lead of designing and fabrication for the team SRM EXPLOROVER. I have joined this team with a vision to achieve the goal of participating and winning the NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge that is held every year in Huntsville, USA. Our team had participated in the JVP India Cup 2017 (held on 12th and 13th October ’17) Our team has won the best design award in JVP Cup. Now that we are gearing up for the upcoming competition with sheer hard work and dedication to make the most of the opportunity to make our country India proud and well recognized in an international level, this crowdfunding campaign is initiated to raise the optimum amount that is required to finish this project apart from the funds which is provided by SRM-IST. Hereby, I request everyone including family, friends, acquaintances and general people all around earnestly to kindly contribute as much as you can in this crowdfunding program. So, help us achieve the aim we are walking towards to make an impact on an international platform. Shower us with your help and blessings. We promise to not let you down. Thanking you.

THE DESIGN & COMPETITION

Human Exploration Challenge is a competition organized by NASA every year in Huntsville, Alabama, USA. College and school students from all across the globe participate in this competition to present their ideas of rovers.

This competition teams will design and create rovers capable of traversing a challenging exoplanetary-like landscape. Just as in the Apollo 14 surface mission teams will have to make real-time decisions about which mission objectives to attempt and which to leave behind – all driven by a limited, virtual six-minute supply of oxygen with a one-minute reserve. Instead of time penalties, teams will earn points as they progress through all stages of the competition. Returning the results of their mission tasks and finishing without using their “oxygen” reserve will earn additional rewards. 

The planned course for the competition will require two students, one female and one male, to traverse a terrain of 0.50 miles that includes a simulated field of asteroid debris, boulders from 5 to 15 inches across, an ancient stream bed with pebbles approximately 6 inches deep, and erosion ruts and crevasses of varying widths and depths. The challenge’s weight and time requirements encourage compactness, lightweight, high performance and efficiency. As part of the competition – before their first time on the course – ROVER entries are tested to see that they would fit into a lander equipment bay, a maximum of 5 feet by 5 feet by 5 feet in volume. Teams earn points by assembling the ROVER in the allotted time; designing a ROVER that is lightweight; successfully completing course obstacles; performing tasks throughout the mission, and meeting pre- and post-challenge requirements. Each team is permitted two excursions: The greater score of the two excursions will be used for the final team score.

COSTS AND EXPENSES:

The total cost of this project is almost INR 20L. We are getting part funded by the college and need to raise atleast INR 9L though this crowdfunding campaign. Me and my other teammates are raising funds through individual crowdfunding campaigns.

JUDGING CRITERIA

The Design:
The judging criteria of Human Exploration Challenge,2018 Propulsion System –  rover to be capable of traversing hills up to 5 feet (~1.5 meters) high and pathways inclined up to 30 degrees in their direction of travel and transverse to the direction of travel.

Therefore, the rover has been designed keeping in mind the strength, speed and easy mobility across any kind of terrain.

Propulsion System:
Propulsion System – Must be human-powered. Energy storage devices, such as springs, flywheels, batteries, or others are not allowed.

Tyres:
Pneumatic or solid, are not permitted on rovers competing in the Challenge. Only non- pneumatic wheels can be used. The wheel’s design is completely new, with an idea of regaining shape when the pressure will be removed. The wheel’s design will be capable of traversing hills and all types of obstacles in the course.

Safety:
Due to the extremely rough terrain safety is a matter of concern. With strength and efficiency, the rover must be safe so that incase of any emergency the pilots can escape injuries.

ABOUT TEAM SRM EXPLOROVER

SRM Explorover is a team of nine (9) B.Tech students from different disciplines at the SRM Institute of Science and Technology. The team has qualified among the four teams to represent India  for the final round in NASA, Huntsville, Alabama, USA. The team intends to represent India globally and get India fame on the international platform.

Mr. SHAFEUL WARA is the team leader and has participated in NASA HUMAN EXPLORATION ROVER CHALLENGE 2017. This team performed well in the India competition and was awarded multiple awards as listed below.
1st in Best design award. 
2nd in Telemetry award  
2nd in Featherweight award.  
4th in overall (race).

SRM TEAM was the only team from Tamil Nadu who reached to finals of JVP cup 2017 and performed well. The ROVER made by SRM students was unique and different.

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE:

SRM Institute of Science and Technology (formerly known as SRM University) is one of the top ranking universities in India with over 38,000 students and more than 2600 faculty across all the campus, offering a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programs in Engineering, Management, Medicine and Health Sciences, and Science and Humanities.