Regolith Packaging System with Modular Sealing and Shock Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robotic packaging systems for regolith samples face challenges in withstanding mechanical shocks during launch and landing while being compact and lightweight, and ensuring reliable sealing and operation in extreme conditions for sample return missions.
Innovation Solution
A remotely operable packaging system with a main housing, elevation assembly, arm assembly, and funnel assembly, featuring motors, gear mechanisms, and a sealing gasket, which securely retains and seals the sample container by rotating the lid into engagement with the container, and includes resilient deformable projections for shock resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If robotic packaging apparatus is designed to withstand mechanical shocks and vibrations during launch and landing, then reliability under extreme conditions is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging system is divided into distinct functional modules: a container for sample storage, a separate lid for sealing, an arm assembly for lid manipulation, and a funnel assembly for sample transfer. Each module is independently designed and can be optimized for its specific function, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability through modular fault isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The container is nested within the main housing, the lid is nested on the container, and the funnel assembly is integrated into the arm assembly. This nested configuration minimizes the overall volume and weight of the packaging system while ensuring that each component is protected during launch and landing, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Weight of moving object
If robotic packaging apparatus is made compact and lightweight to maximize payload capacity, then weight is reduced, but ability to withstand mechanical shocks and ensure reliable sealing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing gasket is a localized feature on the lid that provides enhanced sealing capability only where needed at the container-lid interface. This allows the majority of the packaging system to remain lightweight while concentrating protective and sealing functions in specific critical areas, thus maintaining sealing reliability without significantly increasing overall weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing gasket appears to be made of a resilient, deformable material that can conform to the container opening and create a reliable seal. This composite approach uses specialized materials with specific properties (flexibility, resilience) only where required for sealing, rather than making the entire packaging system heavy-duty, thereby maintaining low weight while ensuring sealing reliability.
3Manufacturing precision
If motors and gear mechanisms are used for precise lid rotation and sealing, then sealing precision is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lid rotation and sealing functions are extracted from the main container and implemented as a separate arm assembly with integrated motor and gear mechanisms. This allows the precision mechanisms to be optimized independently and positioned optimally for their function, achieving precise sealing without requiring the entire packaging system to be heavy-duty. The arm assembly can be lightweight while still providing the necessary precision for sealing.
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
The system effectively secures and seals regolith samples during extreme conditions, ensuring reliable operation and minimizing payload weight, enabling efficient sample return missions by transitioning through operational states to resist vibrations and shocks.
Implementation Method 1
an elevation assembly (30) connected to the housing (20) and comprising a first motor (32) rotatably coupled to an elongate pin (34), said elongate pin threadingly engaged with a driven sleeve (36) for changing the height thereof
Implementation Method 2
an arm assembly (50) attached to the driven sleeve (36) and comprising a second motor (62) connected to a gear mechanism (60)
Implementation Method 3
The housing (20) may include resiliently deformable projections extending into the cavity (22)
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
There is provided a non-terrestrial regolith robotic sample packaging system, and container. The system has a main housing with an elevation assembly and a cavity for receiving a sample container. The elevation assembly comprises a first motor, an elongate pin, and a driven sleeve. An arm assembly comprises an arm housing with a clutch assembly, and a gear mechanism driven by a second motor. There is also an axle pin which extends from the arm assembly. The system also includes a funnel assembly which has a funnel, and a skirt. A funnel driving gear of the gear mechanism rotates the funnel independently of the skirt.