Cyclonic Sample Collection Chamber for Microgravity Soil Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sample collection systems for planetary missions rely on complex robotic arms and gravity, making them unsuitable for microgravity environments and struggling with sticky or cohesive samples, limiting their effectiveness on comets, asteroids, and certain planetary bodies like Mars.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic sample acquisition and delivery system that uses a gas stream to induce cyclonic flow, capturing and filtering samples without mechanical linkages, allowing operation in low or microgravity environments and enabling sample collection from various surfaces using a container system integrated with an interplanetary vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If robotic arms with scoops are used to capture soil, then samples can be collected on planetary surfaces with gravity, but the system becomes complex and costly with mechanical linkages that cannot operate in microgravity environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical robotic arm system with a pneumatic system that uses gas pressure to propel samples through a conduit. Instead of mechanical scoops and arms, a pressurized gas stream captures and transports soil particles directly, eliminating complex mechanical linkages while maintaining sample collection capability in both gravity and microgravity environments
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs pneumatic principles by using a pressurized gas stream to capture, transport, and deposit soil samples. The gas pressure propels particles through a conduit system, enabling sample acquisition without mechanical contact or moving parts, thus simplifying the system while ensuring reliable operation across diverse gravitational conditions
2Ease of manufacture
If gravity-based scoop systems are used, then sample acquisition is simple on planetary surfaces, but the system fails in microgravity environments and with sticky/cohesive samples
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameter from gravity-dependent mechanical scooping to pressure-driven pneumatic transport. By controlling gas pressure and flow characteristics, the system adapts to different gravitational environments and sample properties, maintaining simplicity while achieving universal applicability across planetary surfaces, comets, asteroids, and microgravity conditions
3Measurement precision
If complex robotic arm mechanisms are used, then samples can be precisely delivered to instruments, but the system becomes costly and difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the precision mechanical delivery system with a pneumatic transport system that uses controlled gas flow to deliver samples to instruments. The precision is achieved through flow control rather than mechanical positioning, eliminating complex linkages while maintaining accurate sample delivery capability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and reliable sample collection and storage in diverse gravitational conditions, simplifying the sample acquisition process and allowing multiple samples to be acquired and analyzed using integrated instruments.
Implementation Method 1
A chamber having an inlet is fluidly coupled to the inlet conduit, the inlet and chamber configured to induce cyclonic flow
Implementation Method 2
A filter is disposed between the exhaust conduit and the chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A sample collection system for an extraterrestrial vehicle and method of operating is provided. The system includes an inlet conduit configured to receive a gas stream. A chamber having an inlet is fluidly coupled to the inlet conduit, the inlet and chamber configured to induce cyclonic flow. A container is removably disposed within the chamber, the container having a first opening fluidly coupled to the inlet and an outlet. An exhaust conduit is fluidly coupled to the outlet. A filter is disposed between the exhaust conduit and the chamber.