Robotic Arm

Mechanical: Research, design, and manufacture end effector and 6 DOF arm capable of servicing equipment (typing on a keyboard, inserting a USB, flipping switches, etc)

Electrical: Design, build, and integrate custom PCBs, real-time sensors, motors and their drivers/controllers, dust-proofing, continuous rotation electrical connectors (e.g. slip ring), and power delivery/management systems

Software: Program and integrate forward and inverse kinematics using ROS MoveIt and test code with the robot arm

Chassis and Suspension

Mechanical: Design, prototype, manufacture, and test chassis and suspensions system (rocker bogie) in order to traverse terrain

System Engineering: Integrate all project team components to allow for a low center of gravity, stable rover, protected components, and ease of access to all components.

Biological Payload

Biology/Chemistry: Design and conduct experiments to detect presence of life using raman spectroscopy and metabolite testing

Mechanical: Design and manufacture auger system for soil collection and rotatable carousel system for soil storage and analysis

Electrical: Research, integrate, and/or program stepper motors and their drivers, RGB/IR cameras to detect for chlorophyll, a custom miniature Raman spectrometer, and other sensors that can test for the presence of life

Software: Analyze IR images of rock samples using computer vision algorithm to detect photosynthetic material

Drivetrain & Power

Mechanical: Research, prototype, and fabricate wheel and tread design and motor assembly capable of traversing Martian terrain

Electrical: Design and manufacture lithium-polymer power supply and PCBs for power distribution and conversion and determine motor, encoder, and gear box assembly

Communication and Intelligence

Communication: Establish a wireless communication link using COT Ubiquiti antenna components

Software: Program a semi-autonomous rover using the Nvidia Jetson TX2, motor controllers, sensors (IMU and GPS), and joysticks. ROS will be used for algorithms, including computer vision, SLAM, and data processing.

Business

Project Management: Create project timeline, deliverables, and budget as well as coordinate sponsorships, recruiting events, outreach, and social events, and training and recruiting sessions

Media Design: Design graphic for logo, website, social medias, posters, and other medias to showcase Boiler Robotics