Summary Draft 2 of Perseverance's Robotic Arm

 Perseverance’s Robotic Arm Summary


The webpage “Robotic Arm” (NASA, n.d.) introduces Mars' Perseverance’s robotic arm. The robotic arm collects rock samples and stores them for analysis. The Perseverance’s robotic arm consists of scientific cameras, a drill, Gaseous Dust Rem

oval Tool (GDRT), five degrees of freedom rotary actuators and a ground contact sensor. 


There are three scientific cameras, WATSON, SHERLOC and PIXL. As mentioned in the webpage “Watson” (NASA, n.d.), WATSON is a color camera used to take zoomed in pictures of targets of interest that contain signs of microbial life searched by SHERLOC. PIXL functions similarly to SHERLOC. However, it is able to identify chemical elements at a miniscule level. The rover's drill penetrates into the Martian surface to collect and store rock samples according to “Robotic Arm” (NASA, n.d.). The GDRT  then uses nitrogen gas to reveal the inner layer of the rock for analysis (Brockie, 2021).The five degrees of freedom rotary actuators allow the robotic arm to move in five different axes. The ground contact sensor sends a signal to the robotic arm to stop its movement to prevent it from touching the ground (Robotic Arm, n.d.).


References:

Nasa. (n.d.) Robotic Arm

https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/spacecraft/rover/arm/


Nasa. (n.d.) Watson https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/spacecraft/rover/cameras/#WATSON


Brockie, I.(2021) Why and How Perseverance Abrades Rocks. NASA.

https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/mission/status/327/why-and-how-perseverance-abrades-rocks/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Descriptive reflection

Subject: Self-introduction letter  Dear Professor Blackstone, My name is Dillon Chew and I am writing this letter to introduce myself. I am currently a year one student from the Robotics Systems Engineering programme in Singapore Institute of Technology. I previously graduated with a Diploma in Mechatronics and Robotics from Singapore Polytechnic.  Even though I had decided to specialize in the field of robotics before entering polytechnic, it was not something I particularly had an interest in. It was only much later in my final year my interest in robotics sparked. I used to think that all the math and physics I was learning was pointless and had no real world applications. However, that all changed as I started my final year project.  For my final year project in polytechnic, I was tasked to create an autonomous vehicle, the purpose of which was to transport people from one place to another within the airport's premises while concurrently avoiding other people and obstacles. Hav
Read more

Task 3

  “Employers identify communication as one of the basic competencies every  graduate should have, asserting that the ability to communicate is valuable for  obtaining employment and maintaining successful job performance.”  Sherwyn Morreale, Michael Osborn & Judy Pearson,   -Professors of Communication (2000) Without proficient communication skills, there can be miscommunications as well as misunderstandings not only among colleagues but also with one's superior. With big projects where many professionals from different fields of study work together, a lapse in communication may cause unforeseen mishaps that could be disastrous if commercially distributed.
Read more

Critical Reflection

Module learning: At the start of the module, I sought to achieve clarity and to maintain my composure while presenting. Even though slip ups may still occur and I may still lose my train of thought, I am a lot more confident when such a slip up does occur and I am able to maintain my composure. By observing my peers' actions when recovering from a blunder, the feedback given by peers and with Professor Brad pointing out the do's and dont's if one were to stumble, I have managed to adopt a few things to aid me if I do stumble. When I do stumble, I should be keeping my cool and not say something immediately to try and recover. I have found this to be very effective at curbing my tendency to speak incoherently.  Also, by speaking slowly and clearly, it is very unlikely to lose my train of thought as I am able to process information better and it will allow me to plan out the flow of my presentation.  Although I have not perfected the skill of  recovering from a blunder, by app
Read more