APPLICATION OF SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY ACTUATOR: ROVER PROPULSION

Suresh Metla

M Pardhasaradhi

Dr. M Venkateswara Rao

Vol. 1, Jan-Dec 2015

Page Number: 1 - 12

Abstract:

The vehicle which is used to explore the terrains of planets and its moons is called Rover. Rover used to explore the Moon is called a Lunar Rover. Usually these rovers use electrical motors for their propulsion. The power required for electric motors is produced by solar panels. Solar panels increase the weight and volume of the mission. This is undesirable for any space mission. Here the choice of using shape memory alloys as actuator for propulsion of the lunar rover is explored. Shape memory alloys are metals, which exhibit two very unique properties, shape memory effect and the pseudoelasticity. All that shape memory alloys need, to provide actuation force is high temperature to heat them and low temperature to cool. The solar radiation available on moon can be directly used to heat shape memory alloys. Since there is no atmosphere and also no heat source other than the Sun the temperature under the shade on the moon is low. Exploiting this, a prototype has been constructed and tested in earth environment

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