Thermal Control Architecture for a Planetary and Lunar Surface Exploration Micro-Robot

A thermal control architecture design study is conducted for a novel robotic planetary and lunar surface exploration concept. The concept is based on the deployment of a large number of small spherical mobile robots over large areas, which employ hopping, bouncing and rolling as means of locomotion. The aim of the research is to prevent freezing and overheating of the robots, without compromising their mechanical and thermal reliability and stability. The proposed thermal control architecture relies on a low emissive silver surface coating and a low conductive silica aerogel insulation layer. This enables a single design to be used for several important potential explorations. The effects of a thermal control heat rejection mechanism, composed of a variable emittance coating and heat switch, are also studied in order to increase mission flexibility. © 2007 American Institute of Physics.