The Memory-Maker

Background

With its sulfuric acid clouds, temperatures over 450°C, and 92 times the surface pressure of Earth, Venus is one of the most hostile planetary environments in the solar system. Prior missions have only survived hours! But an automaton (or clockwork mechanical robot) could solve this problem. By utilizing high-temperature alloys, the clockwork rover would survive for months, allowing it to collect and return valuable long-term science data from the surface of Venus. To learn more about the automaton rover, see this link: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/automaton-rover-for-extreme-environments-aree/

There are only a few types of electronics that work in Venus’s hot temperature: those based on silicon carbide and gallium nitride. Unfortunately, the state of the art for these systems is a few hundred transistors (basically the processing power of a solar-powered calculator), so they are highly limited in what they can do, and they consume a lot of power.

As such, your challenge is to develop a mechanical approach to operate a rover on Venus. There are two sub-challenges in this challenge:

1. A mechanical device that stores and records data: For long-term data storage, consider a system that will store information mechanically. Perhaps it looks like a series of electrical switches, which are turned mechanically on or off, or a re-writable phonograph-style record, or a pinscreen, or something else creatively invented by YOU!
2. A mechanical device that reverses input power: To back up a current rover with an electric motor, simply reverse the voltage charge, and the motor runs backwards. However, when using mechanical power, the system to provide a reverse gear becomes a bit more complex. Consider a solution that allows for reverse using mechanical power, but that uses an elegant, simple approach with a smaller part count.

Potential Considerations

1. For the Memory Storage Device, you may (but are not required to) consider the following parameters in your solution:

• Memory: An ideal system can store 1MB of digital (on/off) data.
• Size: An ideal system fits into a box that is 25cm by 100cm by 100cm.
• Mass: An ideal memory system is less than 25 kg, including packaging.
• Electronics: Some simple electrical components may be included, such as wires, resistors, and inductors, if beneficial (since even though most electronics do not work, electricity works fine on Venus). If electronics are used, you may consider a maximum voltage difference across the wires of 18 V or less, and a maximum current of 600 mA (in other words, it essentially can be driven by 2x 9V battery).
• Signal Input: You may consider the voltage source above, a linear motion of 1 N over 1 cm, or a rotary motion with a torque of 0.1 N-m (the inputs are your choice).
• Signal Output: You may consider an electrical output using the voltage source above, or a linear motion of 0.25 N, or a rotary motion with a torque of 0.05 N-m (choose whichever output works best for your system).

Other approaches are acceptable for inputting and outputting signal, if explained in the design. You may also choose to use a combination of mechanical and electrical energy. The signal for reading, writing, and erasing memory could be mechanical, electrical, or both.

2. For the Reversing Power Input Device, you may (but are not required to) consider the following parameters in your solution:

• Design a mechanical reverser that reverses mechanical power direction and considers the following:
  • The ideal input shaft can spin at up to 10 RPM, with a torque of up to 4000 N-m
  • When provided a signal, the ideal output shaft should change directions.
  • Signal will be a mechanical force of 50N with a 3 cm displacement (see prior challenge).
  • A low part count and avoiding linear sliding friction would be key.
  • Size and Mass: The ideal system would be contained within a 300 cm cube and weigh less than 50 kg.
• Inputs: The ideal input shaft operates at speeds of 0.5 to 10 RPM, with a torque between 1000 to 4000 N-m (if less than 1000 N-m, the system does not need to move).
  • Signal input is a linear sliding pin, with a force of 50N and a linear displacement of 3 cm.
• Outputs: The ideal output shaft either turns in the same direction as the input, or if the signal is activated, turns in the reverse direction.
• Electronics: Some simple electrical components may be included, including wires, resistors, and inductors, if beneficial.
• Optional Electrical Inputs: Up to two wires may be used for voltage inputs. The maximum voltage difference across the wires shall be 18 V or less, and a maximum current of 600 mA (i.e. essentially can be driven by 2x 9V battery).
• Efficiency: The ideal system is above 85% efficient (i.e. if 4000 N-m of torque is input, the output torque of at least 3400 N-m would be transmitted).