Phileas Rover: Drivetrain and Structure

The project goal is to develop tyres for Phileas – including the drivetrain along with the axis and a fitting chassis. The conditions under which Phileas, a Mars-analogue rover, will be deployed are very similar to those found on Mars.

The biggest challenge is to acchieve a speed of 4km/h – under conditions like on Mars. This means the system has to work in a temperature range between -133°C and +27°C – bear in mind, that already the simulated range between -80°C to +80°C poses an enormous challenge, as typical surge baffle systems fail at these extreme temperatures.

Following their slogan “Ad Astra per Aspera“, the three students try to found a solution together with the other Phileas team members (Norbert Frischauf, Johannes Heissenberger, Bernhard Jantscher and Mario Lassnig).

As is he case in a real space project, different options are considered, analysed and tested under real time conditions. The goal is as simple as complex: “to build the fastest Mars Rover in the history of mankind”. To acchieve this goal, articulated joints, wheel hub motors and complicated adjustment systems are deployed.

“If we manage to construct a rover which can drive with 4km/h through the terrain, we’ll get a Nobel price!“ Was the statement of Norbert Frischauf at the start of this project – not entirely a joke, as the three students have found out since then.