Mobility update

A brief update on PALADIN's mobility system:

The above is an early animation of the deployment of PALADIN's wheels. Details are available at our earlier post on Mobility.

We are currently looking at motors for PALADIN. There are a number of options we're looking at, with the following criteria (including gearhead):

Runs on less than 1W (up to 1.5 W acceptable)

Output step size at most half a degree - preferably smaller

Output rotational speed at least 2 rpm - preferably higher

Mass under 25 g per motor - preferably ~10 g

Diameter under 30 mm - preferably ~10 mm

Length under 50 mm - preferably ~30 mm

Minimizing step size allows careful positioning and keeps the rover in contact with the surface.
Maximizing rotational speed allows a higher maximum speed for longer traverses.


We are reaching out to space advocacy organizations and aerospace companies for support.

Phobos postcards! Thanks to Vistaprint.

Coming up next, a lengthy post on why we want to explore the Martian moons!

-Daniel