Rover Thermal Positioning Using Environmental Heat Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles and hardware operating in extreme temperature environments, such as the lunar surface, face challenges in maintaining operating temperatures, leading to potential failure due to extreme cold or heat, which existing thermal management systems struggle to address effectively.
Innovation Solution
An environment-based thermal management system that uses a network of temperature sensors and optionally infrared and visible light cameras to detect thermal conditions and position hardware to optimize its exposure to environmental features, allowing it to regulate its temperature by repositioning itself in response to changing thermal conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional thermal management systems are used to maintain operating temperatures in extreme environments, then hardware reliability is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rover autonomously monitors its own thermal conditions using onboard sensors and self-adjusts its position and orientation to optimize thermal exposure, eliminating the need for complex active thermal management systems while maintaining hardware reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical thermal management hardware (heaters, coolers, insulation systems) with a sensor-based environmental monitoring and positioning system that uses software control and mobility to manage thermal conditions
2Reliability
If additional thermal management hardware is deployed to survive extreme temperatures, then hardware reliability is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rover uses its own mobility and sensor systems to autonomously manage its thermal environment by positioning itself optimally, eliminating the need for heavy dedicated thermal management hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The rover's existing sensors, processors, and mobility systems are repurposed for thermal management functions, avoiding the addition of specialized heavy hardware while maintaining reliability
3Temperature
If the rover repositions itself frequently to manage thermal conditions, then temperature control precision is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rover continuously monitors its thermal conditions and environmental parameters, using feedback control to determine when repositioning is necessary, thereby optimizing temperature control while minimizing unnecessary energy-consuming movements
Solution Approach 2:
The rover performs thermal management repositioning only when necessary to achieve acceptable thermal conditions, rather than continuously optimizing, thereby balancing temperature control precision with energy conservation
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
This approach effectively maintains hardware within a safe operating temperature range, potentially reducing the need for additional thermal management hardware and improving survival chances in extreme environments by leveraging natural thermal features.
Implementation Method 1
the environment is evaluated using an infrared and/or visible light camera
Implementation Method 2
the environment is evaluated using an infrared and/or visible light camera
Implementation Method 3
an environment is evaluated using a network of temperature sensors
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to environment-based thermal management. In examples, an environment is evaluated using a network of temperature sensors. Additionally, or alternatively, the environment is evaluated using an infrared and/or visible light camera. Candidate features of the environment having associated thermal conditions (e.g., surface temperature, geometry of an environmental feature, and/or degree of exposure to deep space) are detected and used to position a rover, robot, or other hardware within the environment, thereby causing the temperature of the hardware to be mediated by its exposure to features of the environment. Additionally, the rover may reposition itself within the environment in response to changing thermal conditions within the environment and/or changing thermal demands of the rover.