Cable-Type Displacement Sensors Help Manage Deployment
Airbags used in the Mars Exploration Rover mission must be strong enough to cushion the spacecraft if it lands on rocks or rough terrain, while allowing it to bounce across Mars' surface at freeway speeds after landing. To add to the complexity, the airbags must inflate seconds before touchdown and deflate once the craft is safely on the ground.
Each Rover uses four airbags with six lobes each, all of which are connected. This connection is important, since it helps abate some of the landing forces by providing a damping mechanism to dissipate the impact energy. The fabric of the airbags is not attached directly to the Rover--ropes that crisscross the bags hold the fabric to the Lander, which, in turn, holds the Rover. While in flight, the bags are stowed with three gas generators that are used for inflation.
Miniature cable-type displacement sensors developed by SpaceAge Control, a sensor supplier thatmanufactures miniature, ruggedized alternatives to LVDTs and linear potentiometers,were used to test the airbag performance to ensure the airbag compressive stroke did not exceed its design requirements. The flexible displacement cable made for an easier installation process requiring no special fixturing.
Automation technology continues to advance the capabilities of packaging equipment.This new State of Technology Report from the editors of Control Design covers the ways packaging...
Protecting processes from explosive risks is a matter of life and property. Ensure electrical safety in hazardous locations by installing solutions certified to IEC and NEC standards...
Transform your machine's safety system. Discover how to upgrade with configurable products, scalable designs, and simplified wiring for improved diagnostics and long-term reliability...
