Lunar Electric Rover

Group Members:
Muhammad Shaheer Khan
Muhammad Hashir Zaheer
Dream Team
Muhammad Mubashir
ME-09 C
Muhammad Shamir
Design Objective

 Design and analysis of a lunar electric rover (LER).

 Safety should be the focus of the design.
 Design needs to be lightweight.
 Design needs to be stable and durable.
 The rover’s structure should be strong and able to endure the journey to the moon and its
stay on the moon.
Design Specifications

Rover Specifications:
 Weight = 3000 kg
 Payload = 1000 kg
 Length = 4.5 m
 Wheelbase = 4 m
 Height = 3 m
 Wheels = 4 x 99 cm in diameter, 30.5 cm wide

Chassis Specifications:
 Weight = 1000 kg
 Payload = 3000 kg
 Length = 4.5 m
 Wheelbase = 4 m
 Height = 1.3 m
 Wheels = 4 x 99 cm in diameter, 30.5 cm wide
CAD Model

 I-beam chassis design in an H-shaped orientation utilized according to the previously

mentioned specifications.
 A simple design that would incorporate 2 astronauts.
 A thin walled rectangular body with round edges and corners according to the
specifications mentioned.
 4 wheels attached to the chassis to support the body and for travel.
CAD Model

Chassis Design Body Design

Assembly
Reasoning behind the design

 Simple
 Easy to perform analysis
 Stable
 Strong
 Spacious
 Lightweight
Assumptions

 Internal pressure & temperature is 1 atm & 27 C.

 External temperature on moon is -127 C at day and -173 C at night.
 The walls of the rover are thin i.e. a thin cylinder.
 Body is symmetrical so internal pressure is same in all planes.
 Curvature of walls is assumed to be small compared to internal diameter while calculating
critical loading.
 Weight of roof is neglected while calculating under impact loading and critical loading.
 Thrusters are assumed to be used while bringing down the rover.
 Take off acceleration is 2g.
Analysis

The following materials were tested:

 8090 Al – Li Alloy
 Al – Titanium 6061 – T6
 Ti 6 Al 4 V Grade 5 Alloy

The following analysis were performed on the rover:

 Loading due to internal pressurization
 Buckling of the module walls
 Impact loading upon landing
 Fatigue analysis
 Thermal loading
 Loading due to acceleration/deceleration during take-off and re-entry.
Results & Conclusion

 The results showed that all the 3 materials are suitable to build the rover.
 The stresses due to rocket rotation for all the materials did not exceed the yield stress.
 The stresses of all materials did not result in fatigue failure.
 All the stresses during take off were lower then yield stress of all the materials.
 The axle will not fail during impact.
 The pressure obtained for all the materials were lower than the critical pressure.
 No buckling under impact or static loading.
 Hence, the design is proven to be suitable for a journey to the moon and the environment of
moon.