High-Level Project Summary
Considering the chosen topic, the challenge’s objectives, as well as the available resources, we chose to set up and structure the project differently: We decided to make a miniature model that imitates the habitat we created on the Mars planet, using 3d printed objects. In real life, on the presented model, the parts are transposed into three-dimensional objects using Prusa printers and Creo Parametric and Prusa Slicer programs. The project contains the following: dome, tools (tubular, screwdrivers, hammer, shovel), turbines with a vertical axis, solar panels, warehouse, boxes used to store food resources, a cart for transporting them, table, chairs.
Link to Final Project
Link to Project "Demo"
Detailed Project Description
In order to engage the whirlwinds, we used three servos so we can make a much more realistic display. Now let's return to the main plan of the project, this being the habitat constituted by us, the astronauts who just arrived on Mars. Upon landing, one of the rover's wheels is defective, which requires rebuilding it to function. We chose to use the metal printer provided to remodel the wheel. To make life easier on Mars, the designed wheel will have a pattern that will leave a trail in the sand behind the rover, so astronauts will know exactly the direction from which it moves.
The dome is the main building of our project as the whole habitat is built around it. Our dome consists of all the tools and resources we need through our journey.
It is designed in order to lower the contact with the atmosphere and protect ourself and the materials from the strong winds surrounding the planet. This way we can be sure that we can make the most of this mission, having a shelter where we can deposit all of our resources and live a life without any repercussions.
Vertical turbines produce a source of electrical energy which can function at the highest level during bad weather. Initially, we approached the solar panels option, but these are not convinient because of the frequent winds and vortices which take place on the Red Planet. These happen as a result of martian soil warming, forming vortices which spread the dust, this way blocking the optimal functionality of the panels. In this manner, we can ensure a continous activity during any meteorological conditions.
We used them to transform the wind energy into the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical or electrical energy that can be used to increase resources and increase effiency.
In the Martian vision, the turbines are constructed of modular plastic components with small metal inserts that were manufactured by the astronauts using the particular printer.
The warehouse, the boxes and the cart are necessary elements for storing and for the transport of food resources. Since the temperature on Mars varies between -60C and -70C, the food needed a storage place, located outside to improve the required temperature, so the food will not spoil .The organization of food resources is due to the plastic boxes made. In order to limit our contact with the atmosphere, as well as the food, the cart will be a useful way to take the food from inside the warehouse so that it maintains its temperature, as well as its transport back to the storage place. The warehouse is made of concrete, having larger dimensions, and the plastic boxes being easy to move by astronauts from one place to another with the help of the plastic trolley. We built metal tools, made by the specific printer , as well as a plastic tube, so we won't use too much material, the star screwdriver, with a wide head and the hammer being designed as beats for the tube, increasing efficiency. Being a totally unhumanized environment, our goal is to configure a lifestyle using the resources necessary to survive a year-long journey. Thus a table, chairs, cutlery, forks, knives, spoons, plates and bowls could not be missing . The table and chairs were designed from concrete, a fact due to the larger dimensions, and the cutlery and kitchen items being made of plastic, given by the greater number of examples and the manner of their use.
Space Agency Data
We used different professional sites that consist information of this domain. Also, we used the NASA resources as we found
useful things that helped us in our mission. A big part was represented by our knowledge which took a huge part in this project.
Hackathon Journey
From our team's perspective, a robotics team which has developed through the years, the participation at the NasaSpaceApps' hackathon was a challenge we accepted with much enthusiasm. Soft Hoarders consists of 4 main departments: programming, construction, 3D printing and marketing. This way, the members of the team are familiar with the diversity and utility of the knowledge they dispose of.
We accepted the theme Outfitting a Mars Habitat: a 3D Print Challenge as we are familiar with the printing and designing of 3D pieces and we decided that it would be a great opportunity to take part in it. Regarding this, the theme which consists of creating a habitat on Mars will be a different one than the competitions we are generally engaged in. We wish to expose our vision towards a lifestyle on Mars, using the required resources.
During this hackathon, we met new people, we made cultural exchange and learnt how to work under pressure, having 24 hours to make a layout of the printed things at the required scale in the real life, but also designing an entire way of surviving with the resources put to our disposition in an one year journey on Mars.
https://youtu.be/EGcfCd18H6o Our journey
References
https://nasa3d.arc.nasa.gov/models
https://www.nasa.gov/analogs/media
The code we used to programs the 3 servos:
https://l.messenger.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2FSoftHoardersOG%2FSpaceApps22%2Ftree%2Fmain%2FTeamCode%2Fsrc%2Fmain%2Fjava%2Forg%2Ffirstinspires%2Fftc%2Fteamcode&h=AT1fpbWoYDiqXlOIiQvyeX4J-6-p-5gJo130Zf1zEFidnLMT0So7Nw20DPmJnbz_6VG1QHcDvAgRklID_nZCvpH5ayMLQSYwtkI5iXO8_wMquM3JfOXNMYO26JBeKfXet0HB2g
Tags
#hardware#3d#mars#habitat#newlifestyle