Forerunner

My autonomous rover will use screw treads for more traction in low gravity and have six navigational cameras. It scoops up the regolith and a screw conveyor transfers it into storage. The rover uses the electrical conductivity of the regolith to know when the 7ft³ storage is full. It would include an insulated, temperature-regulated compartment for storing thermal-sensitive components. The rover would be powered using a two-axis high-performance multi-junction solar panel. For power storage, Lithium Thionyl Chloride batteries would be used for their wide range of operational temperatures (-60 to 85° C) and high power density (710 watt-hours/kilogram). Excess heat would be ejected using an ammonia radiator on the opposite side of the solar panel. A labyrinth seal with compressed gas would keep bearings dust-free. A diamond-like carbon layer would protect the cameras’ lens from scratches and a polytetrafluoroethylene layer on the rover exterior will help eliminate dust buildup.