Thursday, October 14, 2021

NIAC 2021 - PEDALS

 Patrick McGarey

Notes by Paul Fischer

PEDALS

Passively Expanding Dipole Array for Lunar Sounding

Develop a mission architecture for a low-cost roll- out antenna array to conduct a multi resolution multi path survey of the moons crustal stratigraphy

Multi static radar probing from the regolith through the crust

Better integration time, noise and resolution v SOTA


This is accomplished by … and architecture


Stratigraphy and lateral variations tell the story of lunar formation, volcanic history and evolution and impact history


This instrument should address all aspects of stratigraphy

Configured on the fly for much greater depth than state of the art precedent


Maximum resolution of .5 m can be achieved with Pedals

Penetration depth of greater than 10m depth resolution of one meter

While at greater than 600 meters the depth resolution must be over ten meters


A number of tethers can hold dipole antennas and probe from meters to km in depth, particular aspects of the tether to share


Linear dipoles can be coupled or coliniear for multiple dipoles

No matching circuit is needed

The minimum attena length can allow no further resolution

Combining antenna to change the resonant frequency, it allows the network to tune the frequency of each 



Couple able linear dipoles analysis are demonstrated in models as shown on the right


Different parts of the antennas at different times


Negative or positive instances of reactions, inductive and capacitive reactions on the right


Behavior of the antenna across frequency, now lets consider the methods for deployment

Low mass

Volume efficient

Robust to obstacles

Long distances


The system must be elastic and that means a passive system, like a roll of tape that unrolls naturally, whether we are unrolling or unspooling or unfolding like a scaffold

Ever played with a tape measure and let it rip, the rate limiter or controlled approach 


Stability controls - damping/friction


Contacted by a company that makes coinable booms that loaned  a sample


How likely that pedal will encounter an imassable rock?

Use of a formula to find what number of rocks might represent there

What is the probability for success? Think about it like 100 m


Almost four km or we need to design/plan for obstacle avoidance


Test a coilable boom design from opterus


Q: what are the biggest challenges with obstacle avoidance?

A: the primary thing is that idea of not wanting to avoid rocks, just have this thing happen passively… significantly offset the science goals, for instance use the tape with something like an outrigger vs. the tape just unrolling itself, we would id all of those trades for a future mission

Q: Loop design?

A: same thing, but a substrate of the tether, essentially three tethers where the sun can be used to unroll them, in any geometry that you actually want, even a meter wide. The challenge is how to imprint that loop on that tape vs. tune the frequency… fixed resonant frequency

Q: boom arms is there room for that here?

A: the boom is complementary it is essentially our tape, the idea of reaching our distances is what we are both after, this is where the NIAC community would share our identities and there is encouragement to see what to do next with it

Q: large rocks and according adjustments?

A: a nice way to do it would be to stick the payload on the lunar lander as the train is coming down, no way to stop either of these from happening…


Q: deployment?

A: might be beneficial to have a loop and be with them passively and touch the surface of what these things could do

Q: the way that dipoles and radars work, 

A: if you have a void you have an absence of material and the Pavone mission to explore the lunar cave, we don’t know that it is a cave

Q: goals?

A: cost effective and minimally robust, looking at the lunar swirl area on minor gamma, we want simple awesome science

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