PEEKbot Lunar Rover Vision: Advanced Design and Manufacturing of a Lunar Rover Based on Thermoplastic Composites

PROJECT COST:

727 095 $

PRIMA CONTRIBUTION:

327 623 $

PROJECT DETAILS:

Lunar exploration is once again a major focus for space agencies. The goal of the project led by Professor and Researcher Daniel Therriault at Polytechnique Montréal is to design and manufacture a lightweight lunar rover, in collaboration with nine other researchers from three different academic institutions (Polytechnique Montréal, École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS), and Université Laval), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), and four industrial partners (ArianeGroup, NanoXplore, MËKANIC, and Dyze Design).

To achieve this lunar objective, the team will need to accomplish five major milestones over four years, three of which are carried out with PRIMA: (i) design of thermoplastic composite materials that meet the requirements of the space environment; (ii) manufacturing of rover components using additive manufacturing and pultrusion processes based on the previously developed materials; (iii) assembly of the different composite components using induction welding; (iv) prediction and optimization of composite structure performance through the development of numerical models; and (v) integration of the various systems to build a functional rover prototype.

In the case of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), efforts are focused on the development of a robotic arm for a lunar orbital station, as well as on the development of a lunar rover, in order to position itself advantageously in international collaborations.

The development of new lightweight and functional composite materials will benefit companies such as NanoXplore, which will gain new applications for its graphene material.

ArianeGroup will be able to reduce launch costs through the development of new materials, while also decreasing raw material usage and manufacturing costs. MËKANIC will benefit from the opportunity to commercialize customized research tools, such as induction welding systems, sensors, and testing equipment for gamma radiation environments. Dyze Design will act as a collaborator by contributing its expertise in additive manufacturing.

The completion of this ambitious project will support the training of three PhD students, one master’s student, and one postdoctoral researcher, in addition to undergraduate interns across the three universities, as well as undergraduate student teams working on Capstone projects supervised by the CSA.

The expected scientific breakthroughs are focused on the lunar rover, with strong potential for terrestrial applications where extreme temperature conditions are present.

Finally, the development of new advanced materials capable of withstanding these extreme conditions will strengthen the roles of Canada and the Canadian Space Agency in space exploration and in supporting the return of humans to the Moon.