The US's latest Solar the lunar rover debut: 2015 moon searching for water ice

"Curious" examine the surface of Mars has begun to expand, the moon will soon usher in a lunar rover named "Polaris", the implementation of water ice exploration task. 10, 2009, the U.S. aerospace and robotics (Astrobotic Technology) uncover the mystery of the "Polaris". This lunar rover in October 2015, is expected to take the SpaceX rocket to the moon.

"Polaris" with solar panel, the shape of people can not help but think of the Mohicans head. The moon, this car lunar rover looking for traces of water ice in the monthly table. Water ice can help future lunar explorers to build a lunar base. "Polaris" is first used to search potentially rich in water ice on the moon, solar robot. According to NASA and the Indian spacecraft observations found that the presence of large amounts of water ice in polar regions of the moon. The researchers said that water ice is the source of water, fuel and oxygen for future lunar explorers.

"Polaris" to underground drilling depth of 1 m, the task can also be performed in the dark area of ​​the moon exploration. Car destination of the lunar rover to the lunar North Pole, will eventually launched from Cape Canaveral aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch vehicle. The appearance of the "Polaris" is a prototype car with the same structure as the final version of the moon landing. It uses a large number adapted to the flight assembly, comprising a light and sturdy synthetic material of the wheel and chassis beams.

The next few months, the the aerospace robotics team will "Polaris" computer vision, navigation and planning software as well as the accuracy of up to 10 feet (about 3 meters) positioning software testing. CEO of the Aerospace Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University, William - Whitaker, who is responsible for planetary exploration missions developed robotics. Whitaker said: "It is the first robot specifically developed for drilling lunar water ice."

"Polaris" by the development of the wild robot technology center. This center has been developed for lunar exploration, robot technology, but also not a robot moon. Whitaker said: 'Polaris' robot combined with a lot of ideas, and have the ability to find water ice on the moon in search of water ice, the lunar rover must be as close to the dark polar regions to conduct exploration, at the same time can not be too close to , and so can not use solar panels to generate electricity.

"Polaris" is equipped with three large solar cell, arranged vertically, you can capture the sun near the horizon. The average three solar panels generating capacity up to 250 watts. , "Polaris" Carnegie Mellon University, NASA funded the promise Perot Rion robot project developed software for tracking "Polaris" phase for the position of the light, so that the generating capacity to maximize , so in the dark area of ​​the polar exploration mission to become a possibility.

Whitaker said a lunar day is roughly equivalent to 14 Earth days, you can find water ice in the polar regions is only about 10 days. The Aerospace Robotics team hope "Polaris" During this time drilled 10-100 holes, used to search for water ice. Company, in cooperation with Carnegie Mellon University, the competition in the $ 20 million Google Lunar X Prize. In order to get the prize money, space robotics company has developed two lunar rover, "Polaris" is one of them.

Google is privately funded lunar exploration project has established a $ 30 million funding. The $ 20 million first prize will be awarded to the success of the robot landed the lunar surface and travel 500 meters, video, images and data returned to Earth company. "Polaris" live long and cold lunar night test, able to withstand water ice exploration task will have a very bright future. Currently, the the the aerospace robotics technology companies from NASA hands got nine lunar exploration missions contract, totaling $ 3.6 million,solar charge controller including the assessment of "North Star" in the Arctic near the road three miles (about 4800 meters) Aerospace Bureau of water ice exploration equipment's ability to perform inspection tasks.