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PIPEVINE-INSPIRED SELF-HEALINGROVER WHEEL
HOW THE PIPEVINE’S QUICK HEALING COULD UPGRADE THE WHEELNASA BIOMIMICRY PROJECT: NATURE-INSPIRED EXPLORATION ON EARTH AND IN SPACE
AUTHOR: ANTHONY THOMAS DEMONG | SCHULICH SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING | INSTRUCTOR M. EGGERMONT
I M AG E R E F E R E N C E S :[ 1 ] D N A R A D I A T I O N D A M A G E : H T T P : / / W W W . C G S O C I E T Y . O R G / C G S A R C H I V E / N E W G A L L E R Y C R I T S / G 8 5 / 8 6 7 8 5 / 8 6 7 8 5 _ 1 1 9 4 0 9 3 5 0 9 _ L A R G E . J P G[ 2 ] M I C R O G R A V I T Y W A T E R D R O P L E T : H T T P S : / / I . Y T I M G . C O M / V I / P X1 7 A C S 5 K H K / M A X R E S D E F A U L T . J P G[ 3 ] M A R T I A N T E R R A I N : H T T P : / / I M G . P H O M B O . C O M / I M G 1 / P H O T O C O M B O / 8 0 / 2 2 9 5 3 6 M A I N _ P I A 0 2 4 0 6 . J P G[ 4 ] C R A C K E D R O V E R W H E E L 1 : H T T P : / / W W W . J P L . N A S A . G O V / S P A C E I M A G E S / I M A G E S / L A R G E S I Z E / P I A 2 0 3 3 4 _ H I R E S . J P G[ 5 ] C R A C K E D R O V E R W H E E L 2 : H T T P : / / W W W . S P A C E . C O M / I M A G E S / I / 0 0 0 / 0 4 8 / 6 4 6 / O R I G I N A L / C U R I O S I T Y_ W H E E L _ T R E A D . J P G ? I N T E R P O L A T I O N = L A N C Z O S - N O N E & F I T = I N S I D E % 7 C 6 6 0
Leg connected to rover body
High pressured, expandable material
between outer and inner sections of the wheel
Once a crack or hole appears in thewheel, an inner material expandsoutwards into the crack. This simulatesthe pipevine’s natural healing process,where lesions are filled by rapidly-dividing cells. As a result, the structuralintegrity of the wheel is maintained,increasing its functional lifespan.
Chosen material would stop when it comes into contact with the outer atmosphere, such as a chemical reaction with CO2, the dominant gas on Mars (95.32%) [1]
The design of the wheel (to the left) is based on that of the Mars Curiosity
rover, which is currently suffering from cracked wheels.
[5][4]
RADIATION
Astronauts are exposed to significant sources of harmful radiation.
Exposure to high doses can lead to radiation sickness.
HYDRATION
On the ISS, most of the excess water and waste is recycled.
Ejection of humid water vapour from airlocks is a current cause of excess water loss.
TRAVERSING
PLANETS
Rover wheels struggle on rocky, uneven terrain.
On Mars, rovers like the Spirit have become immobilized.
RESEARCHING NASACHALLENGES
[1]
[2]
EDELWEISS FLOWER
LEONTOPODIUM ALPINUM
To protect itself, the Edelweiss
has hairs capable of
absorbing UV radiation before it can harm the plant’s tissue.
Coating a surface with synthetic Edelweiss-like hairs could block harmful UV radiation.
CAMEL
CAMELUS BACTRIANUS
To conserve water lost from exhaling, the camel reabsorbs
humidity from the air it exhales in
its hygroscopic nasal passages. Surfaces within the ISS could
condense and then store humidity from the air, preventing excess water loss.
PIPEVINE
ARISTOLOCHIA MACROPHYLLA
Whenever the pipevine’s tissue is damaged, the cells
surrounding this area
begin to rapidly multiply in
order to seal the crevice. This concept of rapid
expansion could be applied to manmade surfaces.
NATURE’S SOLUTIONS TOTHESE PROBLEMS
[3]
PIPEVINEILLUSTRATION
CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIESDIAGRAM
ANTHONY T. DEMONG [email protected] M. EGGERMONT [email protected]
