ECE.04 – Retrieval and Sampling System (RASS)
Team Members Heading link
- Lina Baolati
- Pranit Cheikycharla
- Jay Lee
- Dat Nguyen
- Miguel Pineda
- Zhenming Sun
Project Description Heading link
The recent missions of NASA have led to a greater understanding of our universe. In August of 2022, NASA will send an orbiter to explore a metallic asteroid, Psyche 16. Considered to be the partial core of a shattered planetesimal, the asteroid provides a closer look at the interior of a terrestrial planet. The Retrieval and Sampling System, or RASS, contains a robotic arm system that allows the collection of multiple types of surfaces through drilling as well as a sub-system to transport samples into storage. This will further our understanding of the morphological and petrological properties of the asteroid, such as the texture of the silicon component of the terrain. RASS will be integrated with a rover that is set for arrival in 2026. To envision the sampling system, the prototype contains a 3D printed robotic arm system. The system operates based on C programmed control algorithm and is executed using Arduino Mega, and powered by a 12V battery. The system also includes an SVPRO HD USB Camera module for detailed sample processing. The entire system is designed to collect and store samples with high precision. The system is capable of operating in harsh environments (potential blizzards, extreme temperatures) to simulate the conditions on the asteroid. This system will pave a path towards understanding a core’s formation process and further lead to understanding the fundamentals of a terrestrial planet.