Regolith Sensor Manufacturing for In-Situ Lunar Payload Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for deploying devices on celestial bodies require transporting them from Earth, which occupies valuable payload space and limits resources for other needs.
Innovation Solution
Additively manufacturing sensors using celestial body regolith by mixing it with a resin or matrix to create an additive manufacturing medium, and constructing the sensor structure layer-by-layer using techniques like DLP, leveraging regolith's spectral analysis data to determine sensor functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If devices are transported from Earth to celestial bodies, then device functionality is ensured, but payload space is consumed and resource availability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables celestial bodies to provide their own sensing resources through in-situ regolith-based sensor manufacturing. Instead of transporting sensors from Earth, the system uses locally available regolith materials combined with resins to manufacture sensors directly on the celestial body surface, making the environment self-sufficient for sensing operations
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material state and composition parameters by combining regolith particles with resin materials in specific ratios (e.g., 20% regolith by volume or less) to create a manufacturable additive medium that maintains sensor functionality while adapting to local celestial body materials
2Ease of manufacture
If regolith is mixed with resin to create additive manufacturing medium, then in-situ manufacturing is enabled, but material composition control becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates composite materials by combining regolith particles with resin matrices, where the resin serves as a binder and the regolith provides sensing properties. This composite approach enables manufacturing with local materials while maintaining functional performance through controlled composition ratios and particle size distributions
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different resin-to-regolith ratio configurations in different regions or applications, allowing optimization of sensor properties for specific sensing needs while using the same basic additive manufacturing process with locally sourced regolith materials
3Adaptability or versatility
If spectral analysis data is used to determine sensor functions, then adaptive sensor design is achieved, but analysis time and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs spectral analysis of regolith materials in advance to identify suitable sensor functions and properties before manufacturing begins. This preliminary characterization allows the system to select appropriate sensor types and configurations based on the specific regolith composition, enabling adaptive design without delaying the manufacturing process
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements a feedback loop where spectral analysis data from regolith samples informs sensor design decisions, and the resulting sensor performance data feeds back into refining the manufacturing process and material selection, creating an adaptive system that optimizes sensor functions based on actual material properties
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 in-situ manufacturing of sensors, reducing payload requirements and allowing for real-time, adaptive data collection on celestial bodies, enhancing space exploration capabilities and safety.
Implementation Method 1
In certain embodiments, the resin or matrix is UV resin
Data Source
AI summary
A method can include additively manufacturing a sensor structure using a regolith of a celestial body. A sensor can be formed of additively manufactured celestial body regolith. A system for additively manufacturing sensors from celestial body regolith can include a spectrometer configured to receive and analyze regolith to produce regolith data, and an additive manufacturing machine associated with the spectrometer to receive the regolith data and to manufacture a sensor based on the regolith data to perform a predetermined sensor function.