Mars, the mysterious red planet, has always been a fascination. Over 40 space probes have already been sent to Mars, but the question still remains; does life exist on our neighboring planet? The unmanned flight to Mars has been a long-term goal of several leading space agencies. Most notably NASA and its space shuttle ‘Orion’, the European Space Agency (ESA) with program ‘Aurora’ and the Russian Space Agency ‘Roskosmos,’ while India and China also join this reputable contingent.
At the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR)) in Oberpfaffenhofen, the exploration of Mars is also a hot topic. Acting on behalf of the German government within the national space program, the German Aerospace Center is responsible for research and contributions to the ESA and tasked with developing long-term research goals for the state. At the Institute for Robotics and Mechatronics (Institut für Robotik und Mechatronik), a division of the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), researching the latest technologies to advance space exploration is an important part of achieving the goals of a mission.
Working in close collaboration with the Institute for Robotics and Mechatronics is Dr. Kaj Fuehrer, Head of System Building Technology South (Leiter Systemhaus Technik Sued) at DLR. The System Building Technology function serves as a point of contact for the research team, providing them expertise in implementing technology within research projects. Acting as an advisory body, Dr. Fuehrer and his team are extremely knowledgeable when it comes to design and production with varying manufacturing methods. “Our prototypes are often very complex and typically push the boundaries of what is possible,” says Dr. Fuehrer. “Therefore, it is important to choose the appropriate production method and material, so that we can achieve the desired functionality without any limitations.”
When Dr. Fuehrer’s colleagues, Dr. Stefano Seriani and Dr. Armin Wedler, approached him about the production of a prototype TransRoPorter (TRP) – an exploration robot for unmanned flights to Mars – the decision to use 3D printing was an easy one. The TransRoPorter is made from two components: the moveable TRP Rover-Unit, made to navigate in unstructured terrain, and the Payload Module (PM), which carries spare parts, communication technology and scientific tools. Rigorous testing is required to ensure functionality and practicality of the first prototypes of the TransRoPorter. As a result, DLR turned to Stratasys FDM 3D Printing to test the design and functionality of the robot under simulated extreme conditions ahead of time. “The Payload Module is at the heart of the system, and we needed a fully- functional prototype that could perform in all tests and withstand the strain of the design,” explains Stefano Seriani.
Dr. Fuehrer adds: “In the planning of this project, we always preferred 3D printing technology. For us it was clear, a prototype made from metal was too expensive and complex in production. A metal prototype would also need to be finished post-production, which means more work with additional costs. Therefore, we decided to 3D print the TransRoPorter prototype, which offered us the least expensive, fastest and most elegant solution. Everyone involved in the project is delighted with the outcome.”
