Testing MARVIN II (Week 1)

  MARVIN II - Day Eight (December 29, 2004):
 
This gallery highlights some of the progress made after our first week with the new mobile platform. Many other task are being performed behind the scenes such as the design of new hardware and software components. The following are simply the easiest moments to capture. .

Clicking on the thumbnails below will allow you to see a larger image. Use the back button to return. Photos copyright Richard Stansbury.

The tracks for the new rover have been removed to support safe indoor testing. As we work on actuation and testing the speed sensors, it is much easier to do so while the vehicle is stationary. By removing the tracks, only the drive gear moves whenever power is given and not the entire track. The drive gears are located on each side of the vehicle toward the front and off the ground. An exhaust fan will be needed to channel exhaust from the vehicle to the outside of the building.

The vehicle's control cables have been disconnected from the hydraulic pump and their support bracket has been removed. A new bracket will be constructed to support our linear actuators. The actuators will then connect to each of the pump's valves in a way that is similar to how the original cables attached.

The mobile robot must house numerous pieces of electronics equipment in order to be fully automated. Within the robot's cockpit area, a structure will be added to house this equipment. In the photo above, the prototype of this structure is shown. The majority of this box will take up the passenger side of the cockpit. A small portion of the box will then sit above the driver's head. The actual box is under construction by the KU Physics Department's machine shop.
 
Note: For tasks such as loading and unloading of the rover and other delicate maneuvers, the rover is designed for manual control, which is why we still provide enough room for a driver. While testing, someone is always on-board for safety reasons.