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dc.contributor.authorKalita, H.
dc.contributor.authorDiaz-Flores, A.
dc.contributor.authorThangavelautham, J.
dc.date.accessioned2022-10-24T23:48:39Z
dc.date.available2022-10-24T23:48:39Z
dc.date.issued2022
dc.identifier.citationKalita, H., Diaz-Flores, A., & Thangavelautham, J. (2022). Integrated Power and Propulsion System Optimization for a Planetary-Hopping Robot. Aerospace, 9(8).
dc.identifier.issn2226-4310
dc.identifier.doi10.3390/aerospace9080457
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10150/666449
dc.description.abstractMissions targeting the extreme and rugged environments on the moon and Mars have rich potential for a high science return, although several risks exist in performing these exploration missions. The current generation of robots is unable to access these high-priority targets. We propose using teams of small hopping and rolling robots called SphereX that are several kilograms in mass and can be carried by a large rover or lander and tactically deployed for exploring these extreme environments. Considering that the importance of minimizing the mass and volume of these robot platforms translates into significant mission-cost savings, we focus on the optimization of an integrated power and propulsion system for SphereX. Hydrogen is used as fuel for its high energy, and it is stored in the form of lithium hydride and oxygen in the form of lithium perchlorate. The system design undergoes optimization using Genetic Algorithms integrated with gradient-based search techniques to find optimal solutions for a mission. Our power and propulsion system, as we show in this paper, is enabling, because the robots can travel long distances to perform science exploration by accessing targets not possible with conventional systems. Our work includes finding the optimal mass and volume of SphereX, such that it can meet end-to-end mission requirements. © 2022 by the authors.
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherMDPI
dc.rightsCopyright © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectdesign
dc.subjectplanetary exploration
dc.subjectpower and propulsion
dc.subjectrobotics
dc.titleIntegrated Power and Propulsion System Optimization for a Planetary-Hopping Robot
dc.typeArticle
dc.typetext
dc.contributor.departmentSpace and Terrestrial Robotic Exploration (SpaceTREx) Laboratory, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Arizona
dc.identifier.journalAerospace
dc.description.noteOpen access journal
dc.description.collectioninformationThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at repository@u.library.arizona.edu.
dc.eprint.versionFinal published version
dc.source.journaltitleAerospace
refterms.dateFOA2022-10-24T23:48:39Z


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Copyright © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as Copyright © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).