RAPID CITY, S.D. (May 27, 2016)
– The “Moonrockers” lunar robot from the South Dakota School of Mines &
Technology placed in the top 10 at a collegiate competition held at NASA
Kennedy Space Center.
The multidisciplinary South
Dakota Mines student team placed 10th overall among a field of 45 qualifying
teams at the 7th annual NASA Robotic Mining Competition. The team captured 2nd place
in the Caterpillar Autonomy Award competition.
NASA is
interested in the mineral oxides contained within regolith, or lunar soil, as a
means to generate oxygen to support future habitats and create rocket fuel.
Student robots were challenged to collect as much simulated lunar or Martian
regolith as possible within a 10-minute period.
The two main
goals this year for the team were to speed up the delivery system and implement
an autonomous operation.
The
Moonrockers team was led this year by Devin Kroeber, an electrical engineering
major, and included the following members: Jacob Green (mechanical engineering),
Charles Hartman (mechanical engineering), Samuel Hill (mechanical engineering),
Daniel Hodges (mechanical engineering), Alexander Muchow (computer science),
Dakotah Rusley (computer engineering), Joree Sandin (mechanical
engineering). An additional team comprised of Erik Figuracion (mechanical
engineering), Mathew Gordon (mechanical engineering), Adam Holzer (mechanical
engineering) and Jonathan Stelze (mechanical engineering) focused on developing
an icy regolith system to collect larger pieces buried deep under the surface
for consideration next year by the team.
The
Moonrockers are advised by Jason Ash, Ph.D., mechanical engineering; Charles
Tolle, Ph.D., electrical and computer engineering; and Moonrockers alumnus Zach
Buechler (computer engineering). Jeff McGough, Ph.D., math and computer science,
and Lowell Kolb, electrical and computer engineering, also provided assistance
to team members.
Sponsors for
the team were South Dakota Space Grant Consortium, Misumi, RoboteQ, alumnus Tim
Lux (mechanical engineering), Burns & McDonnell, Cliffs, Dales Tires,
Aquarius, Power Grid Engineering, Dakota High Voltage & Maintenance and the
Student Association Finance.