Solar power for an Antarctic rover

Abstract

Abstract Sensors mounted on mobile robots could serve a variety of science missions in Antarctica. Although weather conditions can be harsh, Antarctic snowfields offer unique conditions to facilitate long‐distance robot deployment: the absence of obstacles, firm snow with high albedo, and 24 h sunlight during the summer. We have developed a four‐wheel‐drive, solar‐powered rover that capitalizes on these advantages. Analyses and field measurements confirm that solar power reflected from Antarctic snow contributes 30–40% of the power available to a robot consisting of a five‐side box of solar panels. Mobility analyses indicate that the 80 kg rover can move at 0·8 m s −1 during clear sky conditions on firm snow into a 5 m s −1 headwind, twice the speed needed to achieve the design target of 500 km in 2 weeks. Local winter tests of the chassis demonstrated good grade‐climbing ability and lower than predicted rolling resistance. Tests of the completed robot occurred in Greenland in 2005. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.