Lightweight and resistant polymer-bearing in Mars robots

These rovers in the URC competition are all about low weight and robust technology.

This robot would also do well on Mars. The students from the University of Bialystok proved this back in 2011 at the international robotics competition "University Rover Challenge" in the Utah desert. Fully equipped, the exploration device weighs just 38 kg and consists mainly of plastic. It goes without saying that the bearings are not made of metal either. After all, the plastic bearings used have the great advantage that they are unaffected by dust, moisture and extreme temperature fluctuations.

Problem

What was needed: iglidur ® plastic plain bearing
Requirements: URC competitions take place in the desert with a high dust content, very low humidity and temperatures of up to 60 degrees on the earth's surface. In addition to these requirements, the bearings also had to be particularly lightweight.
Industry: Aerospace, space industry
Success for the customer: Very good material properties and a low weight are the advantages of the iglidur® bearings. They are reliable and resistant to the challenging environmental conditions of the desert.

Problem

This Mars robot was built for the competition "Magma2 University Rover Challenge 2011". The aim of the project was to create a system consisting of a mobile robot (rover) with interchangeable tools that can best perform the tasks specified in the competition rules. The mobile robot Magma2 Mars Rover is equipped with an electric drive and moves on 6 wheels. The Cartesian manipulator configuration weighs 38 kg and with articulated manipulator only 27.5 kg. It is used to observe the surroundings with a camera navigation periscope and a flying scout helicopter (with 6 propellers). URC competitions take place in the desert with high dust content, very low humidity and temperatures of up to 60 degrees on the earth's surface. These conditions hinder the use of conventional bearings. In addition, the requirements of the competition limit the weight of the entire structure to 50 kg.

Solution

In view of the challenges posed by the regulations and the environmental conditions on the rover and its individual components, the designers of the rover team were forced to look for more efficient alternatives. The decision was finally made in favour of using iglidur ® polymer plain bearings. The robot consists mainly of plastic, e.g. polycarbonate. Very good material properties and a simultaneously low weight were the decisive advantages that led to the use of the iglidur® bearings. The bearings are reliable and resistant to the challenging environmental conditions of the desert. In addition, iglidur® plastic bearings are cost-effective, maintenance- and lubrication-free and can be used for a wide variety of applications. They are available either from the extensive range of standard parts from stock or as customised components.

Overview of iglidur plastic plain bearings