Venus RAM-e-mber| The Memory-Maker
Project Details
Awards & Nominations
Venus RAM-e-mber has received the following awards and nominations. Way to go!
The Challenge | The Memory-Maker
Venus RAM-e-member
Our challenge consists of two sub-challenges. 1st. A design of a RAM structure capable to work on "hot" Venus. 2nd Design a mechanical device that reverses input power.
The Venus RAM
The design focuses on a mechanical system that works as RAM (Random Access Memory). In this framework, our first task is to provide a system which has two states, a zero “0” and one “1”. These digital states should have the ability to change, in order, our RAM to be rewriteable.
We designed a solution that the bits are materialized by tiny screws, screwed in large matrices in layers. Screws are from conductive material. Each layer is materialized from a non-conductive material, while on its base has thin line-straps of a conductive material. These line-straps (channels), run under the screws holes all across the layer, ending on a bus that is grounded.
When a screw is fully screwed its bottom touches the channels, mentioned above, when not fully screwed it doesn’t touches the channels.
Write Process
The screws are screwed by a screw-driver (driver-pin) which is also by a conductive material.
Read Process
The drive-pin touches each screw one by one. While touching each screw, it is fed with a small current. If the screw is fully screwed, then the current flows through the driver-pin, the screw, the conductive channel and finally is grounded (Venuned), representing state “1”. If no current flows then we have state “0”.
Size of RAM and enclosure
The RAM size is estimated to be around 1.050.000 Bytes, giving as the wanted size.
Enclosure size and maximum mass, are estimated to be close to specifications. It must be noted that materials used for the prototype, are materials found in common market.
2nd sub-challenge
In the second sub-challenge we designed and prototyped a gear box consisted of three gears. The first works on its own and the other two are engaged seriously in a couple. Ehen the machine input is given in the single gear we assume that the rover moves forward. In the case we de-engage the gear and engage the couple- gears then the machine input is reversed and the rover moves backwards. An input of small force is used to trigger the change.
For farther reading, designs, photos please visit our drive:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1cMsMpuIOPjNXgXlf...
Farther Recourses:
1. Automaton Rover for Extreme Environments (AREE). Jonathan Sauder