Flexible lunar dust helical transport device

Abstract

The application relates to a flexible moon dust spiral conveying device and relates to the technical field of moon dust conveying. In order to solve the technical problems that rigid mechanical structures are prone to failure due to moon dust erosion, pneumatic conveying methods are difficult to adapt to low gravity and an atmosphere-free environment, electrostatic conveying technology is insufficient in adaptability in complex terrains, and the high adhesion and accumulation of moon dust lead to reduced conveying efficiency, the technical scheme is provided as follows: a flexible moon dust spiral conveying device, which comprises an inner wall, an outer wall and a conveying surface, the inner wall and the outer wall jointly form a conveying channel, the conveying surface is arranged between the inner wall and the outer wall and is used for conveying moon dust. An electrode is arranged on the conveying surface and is used for generating an electric field to push the moon dust to move. The electric field is a wave electric field, and the moon dust is pushed by electrostatic force. The device is suitable for application in moon dust conveying work.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of lunar dust transportation, and particularly relates to a flexible lunar dust spiral transportation device. BACKGROUND

[0002] Human exploration and development of the moon has become an important part of space exploration, especially in terms of in-situ utilization of lunar resources. Lunar dust, or "lunar regolith", on the surface of the moon contains abundant oxygen, water and other useful elements, providing great resource potential for long-term human presence on the moon. Therefore, effective collection and transportation of lunar dust is a key link for lunar base construction and sustainable resource utilization.

[0003] Existing lunar surface material transportation technologies mainly rely on mechanical equipment such as lunar rovers and tracked transportation systems, which rely on rigid structure mechanical arms, tracks and rotating components to achieve collection and transportation of lunar dust. Similar mechanical methods were used in Apollo missions and subsequent lunar exploration missions, which concentrated and loaded lunar dust through bulldozing or bucket-type equipment, but these methods were prone to wear and tear during transportation, and the fine particles of lunar dust easily invaded the mechanical components, causing serious wear and tear and failure. In addition, the fine particles of lunar dust have high adhesion and abrasion, which are difficult to completely control in a low gravity environment, easily causing reduced transportation efficiency and equipment damage.

[0004] In recent years, with the rapid development of in-situ utilization of lunar resources technology, scholars have also tried various new transportation methods. For example, some studies propose using pneumatic conveying systems to transport lunar dust, which pushes the movement of lunar dust particles by pressurized gas. However, due to the microgravity and atmosphere-free environment on the moon, the pneumatic conveying method is limited by pressure and sealing control problems, cannot achieve long-distance transportation, and has high equipment complexity and power consumption.

[0005] Other studies have explored electrostatic transportation methods, which use electrostatic forces generated by electrodes to drive the movement of lunar dust particles. For example, some laboratories of NASA have tried to use electrostatic forklifts to transport lunar dust along predetermined paths, which have better adaptability to microgravity environments, but existing designs are mostly flat transportation, which are easily limited by changes in terrain and accumulation of particles, and the uniform transportation control of lunar dust particles is not perfect, resulting in poor reliability in complex terrain.

[0006] The main technical problems existing in the prior art include that the rigid mechanical structure is easy to fail due to lunar dust erosion, the pneumatic conveying mode is difficult to adapt to the low gravity and atmosphere-free environment, the electrostatic conveying technology is insufficient in adaptability in complex terrain, and the high adhesion and accumulation of lunar dust reduce the conveying efficiency. In order to solve these problems, a new lunar dust conveying device is urgently needed, which can adapt to the complex environmental conditions on the lunar surface, has efficient, continuous and flexible lunar dust conveying capacity, and can effectively control the adhesion and accumulation of lunar dust particles to improve the reliability and efficiency of the overall system. SUMMARY

[0007] In order to solve the technical problems existing in the prior art, i.e., the rigid mechanical structure is easy to fail due to lunar dust erosion, the pneumatic conveying mode is difficult to adapt to the low gravity and atmosphere-free environment, the electrostatic conveying technology is insufficient in adaptability in complex terrain, and the high adhesion and accumulation of lunar dust reduce the conveying efficiency, the technical scheme provided by the present application is as follows:

[0008] A flexible lunar dust spiral conveying device, comprising an inner wall, an outer wall and a conveying surface, the inner wall and the outer wall jointly form a conveying channel, and the conveying surface is arranged between the inner wall and the outer wall for conveying lunar dust.

[0009] Further, a preferred embodiment is provided, wherein the inner wall and the outer wall are coaxially arranged.

[0010] Further, a preferred embodiment is provided, wherein the inner wall and the outer wall are both cylindrical.

[0011] Further, a preferred embodiment is provided, wherein the conveying surface is a spiral structure.

[0012] Further, a preferred embodiment is provided, wherein an electrode is arranged on the conveying surface for generating an electric field to push the lunar dust to move.

[0013] Further, a preferred embodiment is provided, wherein the electric field is a wave electric field to push the lunar dust by electrostatic force.

[0014] Based on the same inventive concept, the present application further provides a flexible lunar dust spiral conveying system, comprising the device and a control system for providing and adjusting the voltage and frequency of the electrode.

[0015] Based on the same inventive concept, the present application further provides a flexible lunar dust spiral conveying method, which is realized based on the system and comprises the following steps:

[0016] a step of collecting the running state of lunar dust in the conveying device;

[0017] a step of obtaining an adjusted output voltage according to the running state;

[0018] outputting the adjusted output voltage.

[0019] Based on the same inventive concept, the present application also provides a computer storage medium for storing a computer program, which, when read by a computer, causes the computer to perform the method.

[0020] Based on the same inventive concept, the present application also provides a computer program product as a computer program, which, when executed, implements the method.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution provided by the present application has the following advantages:

[0022] The flexible lunar dust spiral transport device effectively adapts to the complex environment of the lunar surface through the design of flexible inner and outer walls, especially showing good stability in dealing with extreme temperature differences and low gravity environments. Compared with existing rigid structure lunar dust transport equipment, flexible materials can absorb external impact and reduce the impact of vibration on system stability, significantly improving the reliability and adaptability of the device in harsh environments.

[0023] The traveling wave electric curtain electrode drives the lunar dust particles to move along the spiral transport surface through electrostatic force, achieving directional control of the lunar dust. Compared with traditional mechanical transport methods, the electrostatic driving method avoids the reduction of efficiency caused by friction and mechanical loss, and can effectively reduce the risk of lunar dust accumulation and scattering, ensuring the continuity and efficiency of lunar dust transport. This method is particularly suitable for the low gravity environment of the moon, significantly improving the transport efficiency.

[0024] The design of the spiral transport surface combines the adsorption properties of flexible materials and the transmission capacity of spiral motion, enabling lunar dust particles to be stably transported along the designed path to the target area. Compared with linear transport paths, the spiral structure provides a longer transport distance in a low gravity environment, thereby increasing the contact time with lunar dust and improving the stability and reliability of the transmission. The design further enhances the control capability of lunar dust particles through cooperation with the traveling wave electric field.

[0025] The real-time adjustment function of the control system enables the traveling wave electric field to be dynamically adjusted according to the physical properties of the lunar dust particles, so that lunar dust particles of different sizes and shapes can be effectively transported. Unlike traditional static electrode systems, this control system has high flexibility and can optimize transport efficiency in different working environments, effectively dealing with complex and variable conditions on the lunar surface. This function significantly improves the adaptability and overall efficiency of the system, especially when faced with complex and uneven lunar dust particles.

[0026] The support structure and fastening device adopt high-strength lightweight materials, and through a foldable design, the stability of the device on the lunar surface is ensured, and the device is convenient to store and transport when not in use. Compared with the existing rigid support structure, the multi-joint design of the flexible support structure is more flexible when deployed, can adjust the device attitude according to the actual terrain, reduce the influence of environmental changes on the operation of the system, and thus improve the stability of the transport and the convenience of the deployment.

[0027] Suitable for application in the work of lunar dust transport. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0028] Fig. 1 A three-dimensional model of the flexible lunar dust spiral transport device and a structural schematic diagram thereof;

[0029] Fig. 2 A schematic diagram of the flexible lunar dust spiral transport device transporting lunar dust in reverse.

[0030] Among them, 1 represents the inner wall, 2 represents the outer wall, 3 represents the transport surface, and 4 represents the electrode. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] In order to make the advantages and beneficial effects of the technical solutions provided by the present application more clear, the technical solutions provided by the present application will be further described in detail in combination with the drawings. Specifically:

[0032] Embodiment one, the embodiment provides a flexible lunar dust spiral transport device, which comprises an inner wall 1, an outer wall 2 and a transport surface, the inner wall 1 and the outer wall 2 jointly form a transport channel, and the transport surface is arranged between the inner wall 1 and the outer wall 2 and is used for transporting lunar dust.

[0033] Embodiment two, the embodiment is a further limitation of the flexible lunar dust spiral transport device provided by embodiment one, and the inner wall 1 and the outer wall 2 are coaxially arranged.

[0034] Embodiment three, the embodiment is a further limitation of the flexible lunar dust spiral transport device provided by embodiment one, and the inner wall 1 and the outer wall 2 are both cylindrical.

[0035] Embodiment four, the embodiment is a further limitation of the flexible lunar dust spiral transport device provided by embodiment one, and the transport surface is a spiral structure.

[0036] Embodiment five, the embodiment is a further limitation of the flexible lunar dust spiral transport device provided by embodiment one, and the transport surface is provided with an electrode 4 for generating an electric field to push the lunar dust to move.

[0037] Specifically, the technical solutions provided by the embodiment include:

[0038] Flexible inner wall 1 and flexible outer wall 2:

[0039] The flexible inner wall 1 and outer wall 2 are made of flexible materials, primarily polymer composites with high radiation resistance and temperature resistance. The selection of flexible materials takes into account the extreme temperature variations and microgravity environment of the lunar surface to ensure that the device can adapt to and remain stable under complex lunar terrain.

[0040] The flexible inner and outer walls 2 not only provide a protective structure for the device, but also facilitate its transport and rapid deployment through their stretchability and foldability. This is particularly important for robotic missions on the moon, given the limited transport space and the need for flexible equipment deployment methods.

[0041] Spiral transport surface:

[0042] The spiral transport surface is a key component of the device, responsible for transporting lunar dust from one area to another. This surface utilizes a material capable of adsorbing and transporting lunar dust, such as a nanoscale flexible conductive composite material, combining high conductivity with excellent flexibility.

[0043] The helical angle of the spiral conveyor surface is optimized to achieve the best conveying efficiency in a low-gravity environment. Combined with the overall structure of the device, this design ensures that lunar dust particles do not accumulate but are smoothly conveyed along the designed path.

[0044] Traveling wave electric curtain electrode 4:

[0045] The traveling wave electric curtain electrode 4 is composed of multiple layers of parallel electrodes 4, which generate a dynamic traveling wave electric field by applying alternating current at different stages.

[0046] By adjusting the frequency and voltage of the traveling wave electric field, a specific electrostatic force can be applied to lunar dust particles, thereby overcoming their adhesion to the surface and driving them to move along the spiral transport surface. This system can adapt to lunar dust with different particle sizes and physical properties, thus achieving efficient transport of various types of lunar dust.

[0047] Electrode 4 may be made of a high-radiation-resistant and lightweight composite material (such as silver-plated aluminum electrode 4), with an additional surface coating to reduce wear from lunar dust particles.

[0048] Control system:

[0049] The control system includes a power module, a control unit, a sensor interface, and a communication module. The power module supplies power to the entire transport device, ensuring the operation of the traveling wave electric field and the transport device.

[0050] The control unit uses an embedded microcontroller and integrates various control algorithms to adjust the voltage and frequency of electrode 4 to adapt to changes in the physical properties and transport path of lunar dust.

[0051] The communication module interacts with the lunar rover or lunar base for data exchange, providing remote control and monitoring capabilities. This is crucial for operating complex devices in remote environments.

[0052] Support frame and fastening device:

[0053] This section ensures the stability of the flexible assembly after deployment and provides sufficient mechanical support for the entire structure. The support frame is made of high-strength lightweight materials such as titanium alloy or carbon fiber composite materials to provide sufficient strength to cope with lunar terrain.

[0054] The support frame is designed with multiple joints that can be folded up when not in use, facilitating transportation.

[0055] Sensor unit:

[0056] The device is equipped with various sensor units to monitor the running state of the device, the movement of lunar dust particles, environmental parameters, etc. Sensor types include temperature sensors, pressure sensors, electrostatic field intensity sensors, and acceleration sensors.

[0057] Data is collected in real time by the control system to dynamically adjust the state of the device, ensuring stable and efficient transportation.

[0058] Among them,

[0059] Connection structure and interaction of each component

[0060] Flexible inner wall 1 and flexible outer wall 2:

[0061] The flexible inner wall 1 and outer wall 2 are fixed through a series of mechanical connection points and support structures to form a stable transportation channel. These connection points use a detachable lock design, allowing the flexible wall to be quickly adjusted during installation and disassembly to adapt to different working environments.

[0062] The fastening device of the support frame is used to stabilize the flexible structure, especially in the case of lunar surface vibration and impact, to ensure that the internal structure does not produce relative displacement.

[0063] Spiral transport surface and traveling wave electric curtain electrode 4:

[0064] The traveling wave electric curtain electrode 4 is embedded in the base near the spiral transport surface, ensuring that it can generate sufficient electrostatic force to drive the movement of lunar dust particles. The spiral transport surface is supported by flexible materials and maintains contact with the electric field generation area of the traveling wave electric curtain, allowing the electric field to exert effective force on the lunar dust particles.

[0065] The interaction between the transport surface and the electrode 4 system is coordinated through the adjustment of the control system, ensuring that the electric field force is aligned with the mechanical helical force, ensuring that the lunar dust remains orderly during transport.

[0066] The control system and the rest:

[0067] The control system is connected to the electrode 4 and sensor unit through a cable, and communicates with the remote operation center through wireless means. It detects the real-time status of lunar dust transport through a feedback mechanism, adjusts the working state of electrode 4, so that the electrostatic field applied by electrode 4 adapts to the current transport demand.

[0068] The support structure cooperates with the control system to change the overall configuration of the device by adjusting the position of the support points, so that it can maintain the best operating state in different terrain and environmental conditions.

[0069] Finally,

[0070] Coordination of components and realization of overall function

[0071] The flexible structure (inner wall 1 and outer wall 2) provides a stable transport channel, allowing the device to maintain consistent operating conditions in the complex lunar surface environment, reducing the impact of external environments such as temperature differences and microgravity on the system.

[0072] The combination of helical transport surface and traveling wave electric curtain electrode 4 ensures efficient transport of lunar dust in a low gravity environment. The helical structure provides the basic transport direction, while the traveling wave electric field provides additional thrust, especially when lunar dust particles are difficult to move due to electrostatic forces and surface adhesion. The traveling wave electric field can effectively exert electrostatic effects to overcome these forces.

[0073] The real-time adjustment function of the control system allows the device to dynamically adjust during operation according to environmental changes to optimize transport efficiency. For example, when encountering rough terrain on the lunar surface or needing to change the transport direction, the control system can adjust the frequency and voltage of electrode 4 to ensure orderly and continuous transport of lunar dust.

[0074] Real-time data feedback from the sensor unit allows the control system to adapt to the variability of the lunar environment, such as temperature changes and changes in radiation intensity, so as to adjust the working state of the system to ensure long-term stable operation of the transport device.

[0075] The support frame and fastening device allow the flexible components of the entire device to be reliably deployed and fixed in place, especially when the lunar rover is moving or performing other operations, the support frame can avoid distortion or misalignment of flexible materials, ensuring the stability of the transport.

[0076] Embodiment six, the embodiment is a further limitation of the flexible lunar dust spiral transport device provided in embodiment five, the electric field is a wave electric field, and the lunar dust is pushed by electrostatic force.

[0077] Embodiment seven, the embodiment provides a flexible lunar dust spiral transport system, including the device provided in embodiment five, and a control system for providing and adjusting the voltage and frequency of the electrode 4.

[0078] Embodiment eight, the embodiment provides a flexible lunar dust spiral transport method, the method is realized based on the system provided in embodiment seven, including:

[0079] Collecting the running state of lunar dust in the transport device;

[0080] According to the running state, the step of obtaining the adjusted output voltage;

[0081] The step of outputting the adjusted output voltage.

[0082] Embodiment nine, the embodiment provides a computer storage medium for storing a computer program, when the computer reads the computer program, the computer executes the method provided in embodiment eight.

[0083] Embodiment ten, the embodiment provides a computer program product as a computer program, when the computer program is executed, the method provided in embodiment eight is realized.

[0084] Embodiment eleven, in combination Figs. 1-2 The embodiment is described in detail by specific examples, and the technical solutions provided above are described in detail, specifically:

[0085] The flexible lunar dust spiral transport device is composed of a flexible inner wall 1, a flexible outer wall 2, a transport surface and a traveling wave electric curtain electrode 4, and is designed as a spiral shape as a whole for the transmission of lunar dust. Its main structural features include:

[0086] Flexible inner wall 1 and flexible outer wall 2: adopt flexible folding materials to provide support and protection structure for the whole device, and ensure the stability of the system during transport. Flexible materials can adapt to the complex particle characteristics of lunar dust, improve the adaptability of the device in the irregular environment on the moon surface, and can change the configuration of the whole device according to different transport directions during use,

[0087] Spiral transport surface: the surface is the main transport channel of lunar dust, and can adopt appropriate flexible materials with appropriate adsorption to lunar dust particles, and promote the transport of lunar dust from one area to the target area through spiral motion.

[0088] Traveling wave electric curtain electrode 4: installed near the spiral transport surface, used to generate a traveling wave electric curtain. The traveling wave electric curtain can push the lunar dust along the transport channel by electrostatic force, effectively enhancing the control of lunar dust during transport. The voltage of these electrodes 4 can be adjusted by the control system to adapt to different types of lunar dust particles.

[0089] Among them, the flexible design: the flexible outer wall 2 and the inner wall 1 can effectively adapt to the complex environment of the moon surface, reduce the influence of vibration and impact on the system, thereby increasing the stability and durability of the device.

[0090] Traveling wave electric curtain drive: the traveling wave electric curtain generated by the electrode 4 can exert directional electrostatic force on the lunar dust particles, making them move in order along the transport surface, reducing the accumulation and scattering of lunar dust, and ensuring the continuity and efficiency of transport.

[0091] High efficiency transport: the spiral structure combined with the traveling wave electric curtain utilizes the synergistic effect of adsorption force and electrostatic force to effectively transport lunar dust, especially in the low gravity environment of the moon, significantly improving the transport efficiency.

[0092] Flexible transport: the overall device adopts flexible design, easy to stretch and fold, very suitable for rapid deployment in extraterrestrial environments such as the moon.

[0093] Multifunctionality: the voltage and frequency of the traveling wave electric curtain can be adjusted according to actual needs, making the device adapt to lunar dust of different particle sizes and physical properties, improving the overall flexibility and adaptability.

[0094] Flexible lunar dust conveying device is responsible for transporting small particle size lunar dust obtained after screening machine processing to the storage tank of the lander test section to carry out related tests. Electrostatic traveling wave transport is a multi-phase alternating current electrostatic transport method. By designing a layer of parallel alternating electrodes 4 on the lunar dust transport surface, when the electrodes 4 apply alternating current, there is a strong electric field on the surface. Under the polarization of the strong electric field, the lunar dust particles overcome the adhesion force and gravity and jump. Due to the small spiral slope, the lunar dust particles will move upwards along the transport surface, realizing the reverse transport of lunar dust.

[0095] The above describes the technical solutions provided by the present application in further detail through several specific embodiments, in order to highlight the advantages and benefits of the technical solutions provided by the present application. However, the above several specific embodiments are not used as a limitation of the present application, any reasonable modification and improvement of the present application, combination and equivalent replacement of the embodiments, etc. based on the spirit and principles of the present application should be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A flexible lunar dust spiral transport method, characterized in that, The method is based on a flexible lunar dust spiral transport system. A flexible lunar dust spiral transport system includes a flexible lunar dust spiral transport device and a control system for providing and adjusting the voltage and frequency of the electrodes; A flexible lunar dust spiral conveying device includes an inner wall, an outer wall, and a conveying surface. The inner wall and the outer wall together form a conveying channel, and the conveying surface is disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall for conveying lunar dust. Electrodes are provided on the transport surface to generate an electric field and drive the lunar dust to move; The electric field is a wave electric field, which propels lunar dust through electrostatic force; The methods include: The steps for collecting lunar dust during its operation in the transport device; The steps to obtain the adjusted output voltage based on the operating state; The step of outputting the adjusted output voltage.

2. The flexible lunar dust spiral transport method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner and outer walls are coaxially arranged.

3. The flexible lunar dust spiral transport method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the inner and outer walls are cylindrical.

4. The flexible lunar dust spiral transport method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transport surface has a spiral structure.

5. A computer storage medium for storing computer programs, characterized in that, When the computer reads the computer program, the computer executes the method of claim 1.

6. A computer program product, as a computer program, is characterized by: When the computer program is executed, it implements the method of claim 1.

Images