Research Article

Solar power for an Antarctic rover

  1. J. H. Lever1,*,
  2. L. R. Ray2,
  3. A. Streeter2,
  4. A. Price2

Article first published online: 27 FEB 2006

DOI: 10.1002/hyp.6121

Issue

Hydrological Processes

Hydrological Processes

Special Issue: Eastern Snow Conference/Western Snow Conference

Volume 20, Issue 4, pages 629–644, 15 March 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

Lever, J. H., Ray, L. R., Streeter, A. and Price, A. (2006), Solar power for an Antarctic rover. Hydrological Processes, 20: 629–644. doi: 10.1002/hyp.6121

Author Information

  1. 1

    Cold Region Research and Engineering Laboratory, 72 Lyme Road, Hanover NH 03755, USA

  2. 2

    Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA

*CRREL, 72 Lyme Road, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 27 FEB 2006
  2. Article first published online: 27 FEB 2006
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 7 OCT 2005
  4. Manuscript Received: 22 JUN 2005

Funded by

  • NSF. Grant Number: OPP-0343328
  • NIST. Grant Number: 60NANB4D1144
  • Army AT42 work unit Mobility of Lightweight Robotic Vehicles

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Keywords:

  • robotic vehicle;
  • solar irradiance;
  • albedo;
  • over-snow mobility;
  • rolling resistance

Abstract

Sensors mounted on mobile robots could serve a variety of science missions in Antarctica. Although weather conditions can be harsh, Antarctic snowfields offer unique conditions to facilitate long-distance robot deployment: the absence of obstacles, firm snow with high albedo, and 24 h sunlight during the summer. We have developed a four-wheel-drive, solar-powered rover that capitalizes on these advantages. Analyses and field measurements confirm that solar power reflected from Antarctic snow contributes 30–40% of the power available to a robot consisting of a five-side box of solar panels. Mobility analyses indicate that the 80 kg rover can move at 0·8 m s−1 during clear sky conditions on firm snow into a 5 m s−1 headwind, twice the speed needed to achieve the design target of 500 km in 2 weeks. Local winter tests of the chassis demonstrated good grade-climbing ability and lower than predicted rolling resistance. Tests of the completed robot occurred in Greenland in 2005. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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