PRISMM
A first generation Martian subsurface ice harvesting robot prototype
Affiliation:
Northeastern University: NASA Mars Ice Challenge
Role:
Time Range:
Team Lead, Subsystem Lead, Mechanical Design Engineer
2019-2020
Skills:
Mechanical Design, Team Leadership, Mentorship, Education, Project Management, Budget Management, Timeline Management, CAD (Fusion 360), Testing, System Integration, Mechanical Design, Heated Systems, Fluid Transport Systems, Drilling Systems, High Vibration Systems, Stepper Motors, Linear Axes, Uncontrolled Environment, Waterproof Design, Complex Design, Compact Design, Sensing, System Controls, Data Collection, Extraterrestrial Engineering, Multi-Axis Systems, Novel Design, Technical Writing, Technical Communication, Competition
Background:
This project was the first year working on my first major engineering project. I joined our school's chapter of SEDS (Students for the Exploration and Development of Space) as a freshman during a leadership vacuum, which gave me the opportunity to serve as team lead for one of their flagship engineering projects despite my limited experience at the time. The project was sponsored by NASA as part of their Moon to Mars Ice and Prospecting Challenge. This competition challenged teams of university students to buid a prototype robotic system that could extract water from subsurface Martian ice while determining the composition and properties of the layers they drilled through to reach the ice. This competition was unfortunately cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but our team managed to work while spread across the country to finish building and demonstrating our system while laying the groundwork for the next year's competition
Images:
My Contributions:
• Led a 12-person team of student engineers to an impressive performance at a NASA sponsored robotics competition
• Mentored, guided, and taught practical engineering skills to a team of student engineers
• Guided team through the impacts of the coronovirus pandemic, continued development of system while prioritizing safety
• Designed the melting and extraction system, which included a heated articulating probe that could save out a large hemispherical segment of ice underground while entering through a small bore hole. The system also included sensors and extraction tubes.
• Learned about waterproof and high temperature design for heating probe
• Contributed to the design of a number of subsystems including the x axis, z axes, frame, and electronics mounting
• Guided the team through testing and demonstrating the system, and writing professional deliverables to summarize our efforts
Outcomes:
This project played a huge role in shaping my engineering skills, and laid the groundwork for PARSEC, one of the most personally impactful projects I've worked on in my life.