Mechanical Design Division, Team Interplanetar

Recruitment Test
You will have to successfully complete ANY ONE of the three assignments to be considered for
recruitment into the Mechanical Design Division of Team Interplanetar

Assignment1: CAD Design

Design ANY ONE of the following device (3D Model in a CAD software; SolidWorks recommended):

1. Auger Drill system

2. Soil Scooping system
3. Vacuum Pump system
4. Any soil collecting device

No matter which one of the four devices you chose to design, all must be able to fulfill the following
criteria:

• Collect soil samples from at least 20 cm underground

• Deliver a different soil sample to each of the six mouths of the Reaction Chamber (shown in
picture; description of Reaction Chamber given below).
• Prevent or minimize cross-contamination between soil-samples from different sites.

The Reaction Chamber is the pink device shown on the rover. On top of the Reaction Chamber are 6
mouths (or holes) that go into 6 separate divisions. Six different soil samples will go through a different
mouth from where on it will mix with water and then pass into the test tubes for chemical analysis (You
don’t have to design any internal mechanism of the Reaction Chamber. Assume it is fully built and
functional). Just ensure your device delivers each different soil sample through a different mouth of the
Reaction Chamber, so that each sample can be analyzed without cross-contamination.

The 3D model of your designed device must be placed onto any convenient location on the rover
body.(The CAD model of the rover and reaction chamber are in this drive link:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XMas_41JzdahlPYEvvYi-3RI57e_vxyN?usp=sharing

) You are free to move or rotate the reaction chamber to any other convenient location on the rover
body.

You can use any popular CAD software but we recommend SolidWorks. Your CAD design must be saved
both as STEP AP214 format and also the original format. Upload both files into your folder.
Also write a document explaining how your device works (two pages maximum, font Calibri, font size
11). Pictures and videos are encouraged. Upload all your files into one single folder named (Student_ID
Your_Full_Name). Instructions for upload are given in the classroom section.

We recommend you read the URC rulebook (Section 2a and 3) and take ideas from YouTube videos of
previous years’ URC SAR to understand how other rover teams approached this task. Your device can be
anything, for example, a robotic arm, a drill system, a vacuum pump or any other novel design that gets
the job done. In your design, you may use open-source parts (like motors) from https://grabcad.com/ or
other open-source libraries. But if you do so, make sure you modify the shape, size or dimensions to
meet the rulebook requirements. We are not imposing any other constraints expect that your design
should be compatible with the rover body and agrees with the rulebook.

Fig(a) Fig(b)
Fig(a): A sectional view of the reaction chamber Fig:(b) The Reaction chamber placed on the rover body

Assignment 2: Engineering Analysis and Selection of Parts

Here is a figure given of a robotic arm we plan to design and place onto our rover. Joints A, B, C, E, and
H will contain motors that rotate the arm joints as shown. Motors at A, B, C, and E will rotate members
with respect to the z axis, while motor at H rotates the arm with respect to the y-axis

Refer to the figure and answer ALL of the following:

I. Chose the optimal length for members AB, BC, and gripper ED of the arm. The robotic
arm should be able to manipulate switches on a control panel about 1.5m above
ground. It should also be able to pick up objects from the ground. The base of the arm
will be installed on top of the rover body which is 500mm above ground.
II. Select motors/actuators to rotate each of the joints A, B, C, E, and H shown. Do
calculations based on the lengths you have selected for each member. Motors and
actuators should be selected based on the appropriate value of torque and power
required to rotate each joint. The arm should be able to lift a weight of maximum 5 kg
off the ground. Assume self-weight of each member of arm to be 1.3kg/m. Assume the
gripper (ED) to have the uniform mass per unit length. Assume reasonable values for
friction, efficiency, or any other factors might come into play here. You must also
provide the model no./ internet links of the market available motors/actuators that you
chose to implement in your design. Show calculations, state assumptions, and analyze
reasons for each decision.
III. You might need to couple some of your motors with gears to multiply
torque by reducing speed or vice versa. In this case you have to mention what gear ratio
you are using in each motor and what type of gear you are using (cycloid, helical, worm,
belt pulley etc.). Show calculations and reasoning as to why you selected that particular
gear system and gear ratio in each joint. Assume reasonable values for friction and other
factors might come into play here.

Also be mindful of our budget, the total cost of your selected parts should not exceed
$700. Also make sure to read the URC rulebook to ensure your selected parts fall within the
rules. No CAD design is required for this section.

You can do this assignment in hand or digitially, as per your wish. Upload all your files into
one single folder named (Student_ID Your_Full_Name). Instructions for upload are given in
the classroom section.

Assignment 3: Batches 18, 19 or anyone with low experience

This problem is dedicated to Batches 18 and 19 who have not yet gained sufficient experience or skills to
perform the above two problems. We highly encourage hardworking applicants from your batches to
help us in building our rover. Hardworking and enthusiastic members are always an asset. To prove your
eagerness to work with us, complete this assignment which is a beginner’s study into the different rover
systems.
1. Suspension system

2. Arm mechanism with 6 DOF

4. Mass distribution of the rover assembly

You may need to have a firm basic over the whole construction before you want to go further.
https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/spacecraft/rover/ ***You are required to do some study of these systems
and submit a 2 page word document in A4 page choosing and implementing concepts based on your
understanding regarding the requirements of the ERC competition font Calibri Body, size 11 with a title
(Bold). You may add any custom design flowchart or any other process flow if you find suitable. *** Upload
all your files into one single folder named (Student_ID Your_Full_Name). Instructions for upload are
given in the classroom section.