Innovative Surface Elements for Space Exploration: a Lunar Tractor and its Family of Trailers
- Paper number
IAC-07-A5.2.05
- Author
Mr. Floriano Venditti, Carlo Gavazzi Space S.p.A., Italy
- Coauthor
Prof. Ernesto Vallerani, International Space Pioneers, Italy
- Coauthor
Prof. Giancarlo Genta, Politecnico di Torino, Italy
- Year
2007
- Abstract
In the frame of activities performed at Carlo Gavazzi Space to prepare the competitions for acquiring Agencies’ Contracts on Exploration Surface Architectures, a number of Elements have been considered for further study among which: “A Lunar Tractor and its Family of Trailers”. The somehow innovative Element is the “Tractor”, a Multiuse Roving Engine equipped with a variety of Utility Supports such as Power Unit, Navigation and Communication Units, Robotic Unit conceived as modular items mounted in such a way to be easily replaced and reconfigured. It has the possibility to mount, on the front and on the tail, via standard interfaces, different types of working machines such as Backhoes, Dozer Blades, Forklifts, Crawlers and Cranes for executing a variety of not particularly engaging functions. In the case of heavy duty functions for which Working Machines of larger dimensions are needed, they are mounted on Trailers designed according to modularity and commonality and are towed to destination by the Tractor. The Tractor in addition has the possibility to pull different Trailers supporting various pieces of Equipment such as Drillers, Detection and Analysis Units or transporting Raw Materials. The Trailers are as well used to deliver at their destination Logistic Materials transported by the Landers arriving at the Space Ports or to transfer Unpressurized and Pressurized Modules in different locations, to be used as temporary Laboratories and Crew support Housings. Complexity is concentrated on the Tractor while Trailers are much simpler. A small number of Tractors can serve a large array of functionalities and different Trailers. The evolution of the Tractors, that initially are completely automatic and remotely controlled, leads to Units operated by the Astronauts in EVA and, in the long term, to Units with Pressurized Cabins to allow long duration operations. The results of the definition and preliminary design, based on extensive application of modularity, commonality, reusability and reconfigurability of such a Family of Surface Elements will be presented and the Operation Scenarios of the different Elements will be discussed, pointing out the benefits to the overall architecture deriving from implementation of such a concept.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-A5.2.05.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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