Progress we have made

The NASA Psyche mission is a journey to study a metal asteroid called 16 Psyche, located in the asteroid belt. This asteroid is believed to be the exposed core of a planet. Studying 16 Psyche, scientists will be able to learn more about our planets core. A robotic explorer that can examine the surface of 16 Psyche is important for collecting data and making new discoveries. The main goal of this project was to design and build a robot capable of traveling across the unique metal terrain of the asteroid. The robot has four legs with a wheel attached at the end of each leg in place of a foot. Legs allow for the robot to jump long distances in the low gravity of the asteroid. Wheels provide a more precise way of maneuvering short distances to a goal. Each of the four legs and wheels operate independently for adaptable movement across the hypothesized surface of the asteroid. An internal gear train located in each leg drives the legs with a linear trajectory. This gear train mechanism permits cyclical motion to allow operation regardless of the robot’s orientation. This robot introduces a unique mechanism for asteroid traversal.