thePandaCoders

Pasadena | Outfitting a Mars Habitat: A 3D Print Challenge

The Panda Setup

High-Level Project Summary

We developed multi-use items that can easily switch between jobs; the tool can go from a seat to a table, storage, or even a ladder. We created two designs for tool handles that can switch the tool heads for different tasks. We also created an easily printable replacement wheel for the damaged rover. We also made a window frame which is taking a lot of inspiration from AI Spacefactory design.

Link to Final Project

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/bd8459eb6b5d690af771811f/w/02ac3476b139871fb2e68b25/e/40d1cd7ce9c5ac2b15cfc4e0?renderMode=0&uiState=6339a481b943bb557fa6d0e8

Link to Project "Demo"

https://youtu.be/-EXVKyoQXQg

Detailed Project Description

We developed a tool handle that is able to switch the tool head for different uses, such as a spoon, fork, knife, shovel, hoe, and more. We also have a shorter longer tool staff that can attach to one another to extend if needed that also has the ability to switch its head with the addition on adding a handle. As the tool's biggest benefit is giving us a mechanical advantage and this can most of the time be increased by increasing the length of the tool our tool bodies are giving us the ability to increase this advantage as well as not waste materials/time(from printing). Our "chair" design, having the ability to stack up allows it to be used as a table, nightstand, shelf, as well as a makeshift ladder if needs be. We had also made an idea to connect multiple together horizontally to provide a bigger space for a table. The wheel design allows for it to be easily printed with little points of error as well as minimizing the parts needed to be printed. This wheel could hopefully be used in place of the damaged wheel. We also built a window frame that is based on the winning design of the 2020 Mars habitat 3D print challenge, AI Spacefactory, window.

I hope I'll get to learn a lot more about what it's truly like being a ME or any engineer. I love STEM, it did a lot for me and now I want to explore it as much as I can. Getting to go experience NASA headquarters would be a dream. I do really hope I could get help learning more about CAD and maybe other Engineering principles. I used SolidWorks(which I later escaped) and OnShape. I also used notability to draw out my ideas and as scratch paper to do any math.

We also have some renderings:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Brh7D-XGgNSMqlXowHks9T7aR-d8UynF/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1d0tLhghsMl6VRoSu2TJmYve1xz8fbzbN?usp=sharing

made in Adobe Photoshop by our artist Kristina Giblin.

Space Agency Data

We use the open data from NASA and the European Space Agency.

From the European Space Agency, we took a lot of inspiration from their 3D precision prints: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2018/11/3D-printed_ceramic_parts_made_from_lunar_regolith

This allowed for our ideas for specific tools to survive as some of my thoughts seemed impossible to do without this technology. We believed printing parts like these were impossible till seeing this. We also use these parts to connect the components of the rover wheel together.

From NASA we used the model of the Curiosity to help design our replacement wheel. We also used NASA for understanding the challenge better as well as understand the Mars landscape a lot better.

Hackathon Journey

I thought it was interesting. I'm really glad I had this experience and I met some really cool people during it which I'm really happy about. I'm kinda disappointed that I didn't do more though I'll keep improving for next year. I learned how to CAD(though not perfectly haha) and I learned a lot more about materials. I also learned a lot about mars' habitat especially the one AI Spacefactory as well as Penn State had made in the 2020 competition. My teammates and I were all new to hackathons and this just seemed really fun as most of us wants to go into engineering or art. We also love CS but the other competitions seemed very intimidating and we felt we might get very lost. As the competition approached and my team was formed I asked my team to come up with some plans on what we should build and then come back together with some rough drawings and then we all talk about them in order to bring out a lot of ideas. This didn't fall through as many people in the team had responsibilities elsewhere. I ultimately came up with most of the designs as well as our artist. We split jobs into roles: researcher, who find the best solution to the problems that come; artist, who renders out our designs in a realistic situation; writer, who documents our journey; and Cadder, who cads our ideas. Most of our members fell out due to exams or other responsibilities so I did all the CAD, the writing, and research. Our artist did an amazing job with her drawings and ideas. I like to thank my old physics teacher, Mr.McClure, for helping me shoot ideas and for helping me learn how to CAD.