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LORAX (robot)
Encyclopedia
The Life On ice: Robotic Antarctic eXplorer or LORAX is an experimental robotics
project being developed by the Robotics Institute
of Carnegie Mellon University
, supported by NASA
. The intent of the project is to create an autonomous rover to survey the distribution of microbes on Antarctica's ice sheets. It is unknown whether it intentionally shares a name with The Lorax
, the environmentalist Dr. Seuss
character.
The goal is to create a robotic platform with full navigational autonomy and clean, sustainable power systems. This complete isolation will allow the robot to operate unattended and avoid any possible contamination of its results. The project aims for the robot to be able to operate for one month without human intervention. The rover's power systems incorporate a combination of solar power
and wind power
. Several solar panel
s are mounted on the shell of the rover. It also has a deployable wind turbine
for generating further power.
A working model of the LORAX rover called Nomad
was tested in 2005 on the frozen Lake Mascoma in New Hampshire
. The rover completed a ten kilometer test run, traversed ice obstacles and conducted a successful test of its wind turbine
. The rover, independent of any human guidance, traveled over fourteen kilometers in all on the frozen lake and returned to its starting point. The test also yielded further calibrations to many of the rover's systems.
Robotics
Robotics is the branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, structural disposition, manufacture and application of robots...
project being developed by the Robotics Institute
Robotics Institute
The Robotics Institute is a division of the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It is considered to be one of the leading centers of robotics research in the world....
of Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
, supported by NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
. The intent of the project is to create an autonomous rover to survey the distribution of microbes on Antarctica's ice sheets. It is unknown whether it intentionally shares a name with The Lorax
The Lorax
The Lorax is a children's book written by Dr. Seuss and first published in 1971. It chronicles the plight of the environment and the Lorax, who speaks for the trees against the greedy Once-ler. As in most Dr...
, the environmentalist Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss
Theodor Seuss Geisel was an American writer, poet, and cartoonist most widely known for his children's books written under the pen names Dr. Seuss, Theo LeSieg and, in one case, Rosetta Stone....
character.
The goal is to create a robotic platform with full navigational autonomy and clean, sustainable power systems. This complete isolation will allow the robot to operate unattended and avoid any possible contamination of its results. The project aims for the robot to be able to operate for one month without human intervention. The rover's power systems incorporate a combination of solar power
Solar power
Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...
and wind power
Wind power
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships....
. Several solar panel
Photovoltaic module
A solar panel is a packaged, connected assembly of solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells...
s are mounted on the shell of the rover. It also has a deployable wind turbine
Wind turbine
A wind turbine is a device that converts kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy. If the mechanical energy is used to produce electricity, the device may be called a wind generator or wind charger. If the mechanical energy is used to drive machinery, such as for grinding grain or...
for generating further power.
A working model of the LORAX rover called Nomad
Nomad rover
The Nomad rover is an unmanned vehicle designed as a test for such a vehicle to ride on other planets.From June 15 to July 31 of 1997, Carnegie Mellon University deployed the robotic rover Nomad to traverse the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile...
was tested in 2005 on the frozen Lake Mascoma in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
. The rover completed a ten kilometer test run, traversed ice obstacles and conducted a successful test of its wind turbine
Wind turbine
A wind turbine is a device that converts kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy. If the mechanical energy is used to produce electricity, the device may be called a wind generator or wind charger. If the mechanical energy is used to drive machinery, such as for grinding grain or...
. The rover, independent of any human guidance, traveled over fourteen kilometers in all on the frozen lake and returned to its starting point. The test also yielded further calibrations to many of the rover's systems.
Sources
- Pedersen, Liam; et al, Rover Design for Polar Astrobiological Exploration, QSS Group, Inc., NASA Ames, Aug 2005.