DESCRIPTION |
Instrument Overview
===================
The Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT) is an integral part of the Athena
Science payload; it was produced to act as the payload's geologic
hammer and more. The RAT exposes fresh surfaces of martian rocks
to other instruments on the payload. The RAT also brushes dust and
debris from an excavated hole or an unaltered rock target in
addition to its rock hammer equivalency role. To accomplish these
tasks, the RAT is a sophisticated 3-axis precision-controlled
device that will allow it to act also as a rock physical
properties science instrument. The returned RAT data will be
inverted and compared to a library of Earth rocks.
The RAT is 128 mm long and is contained within a circle 85mm in
diameter and has a mass of 687 grams.
Information in this instrument description is taken from the Rock
Abrasion Tool Mars Exploration Rover mission paper
[GOREVANETAL2003]. See this paper for more details.
Scientific Objectives
=====================
The chief scientific objectives of the RAT are:
1) to remove the outer, exposed surface of rocks,
2) to provide data such as motor currents so torque can be
directly calculated and empirically correlated to the density and
hardness of the rock and any coatings that have formed on the
rock, and
3) to collect information on the mineralogic and magnetic properties
of the abraded rock by collecting magnetic dust on four magnets
mounted on the lower part of the RAT housing.
Calibration
===========
It is necessary to calibrate the RAT prior to each grinding
operation in order to compensate for certain time-variant or
temperature-dependent parameters. Calibration begins with the
initialization for the RAT Z-axis. This is required to correct for
undetectable migration of the Z-axis that may be caused by
vibration experienced during Rover traverses. To initialize the
Z-axis, the motor is 'homed' using its hard stop, thus
establishing an absolute reference frame for subsequent position
moves. Next, the Rotate motor 'no load current' is
calibrated. This is necessary to account for changes in drive
train friction, lubricant viscosity and dust buildup over time and
temperature range. To calibrate the Rotate motor 'no load'
current, both the Rotate and Revolve motors are energized at
operational levels for a preset period of time. Sensor values are
averaged over this period and updated parameters are stored for
subsequent use. Likewise, the Rotate motor 'seek-scan voltage' is
calibrated in the same manner. It is preferred, but not required,
that the RAT be calibrated in free space, before being placed
against a rock surface. This minimizes the chance of encountering
obstructions during calibration.
Operational Considerations
==========================
The RAT is required to be able to grind 5 mm below the surface of
a rock after it has been properly positioned against an
appropriate rock surface. An appropriate rock surface is
considered a surface with local deviations no greater than +/-5
mm within a 50 mm radius from the point where the RAT Z-axis
intersects the surface plane. It is the responsibility of the
control of the Instrument Deployment Device (IDD) to position the
RAT against an appropriate rock surface such that the RAT's Z-axis
is within +/-15% from the rock's surface normal. The IDD must
preload the RAT against the rock surface with a force no less than
10N and no greater than 100N. Once the RAT has been positioned on
the rock, the grinding process is handled completely by the RAT with
no additional manipulation required by the IDD or Rover.
Several important operational constraints were levied upon the RAT
grinding operation. First, the pose of the (IDD) must not be
disturbed during the grinding operation. Second, the grinding
operation must not expend more than an allotted amount of energy.
Third, the grinding operation should take no longer than a preset
time limit. The RAT control approach was driven primarily by these
operational requirements and constraints. An emphasis was placed on
flexibility and modularity, so that an operator can easily tune the
grinding operation by changing key parameters.
Electronics
===========
From an actuator/sensor perspective, the RAT is an electrical
interface similar to other devices (IDD, mobility) on the
Rover. The RAT has three DC brush motors, and each motor has an
incremental quadrature encoder for position feedback. The RAT also
has redundant discrete switches to sense contact with the
rock. Finally, the RAT has a temperature sensor and motor heaters
to monitor the mechanism's temperature and ensure that the RAT is
within operational temperature limits prior to beginning
operations.
The RAT relies on the Rover control electronics for low-level
servo control and sensor processing. The Rover motor controllers
allow the motors to be commanded in one of three modes: servo to
position, servo to velocity and open-loop voltage mode. The
low-level servo sample rate is on the order of 1 kHz. Motor
current sensing is also provided by the Rover control
electronics. Current limits are enforced at multiple levels
(controller and application software) to prevent damage to the
actuators, grinding wheels and IDD.
Location
========
The RAT is mounted on the end of the IDD.
Measured Parameters
===================
The Rock Abrasion Tool's main function on Mars is to remove the
outer, exposed surface of rocks. In order to accomplish this task,
the RAT is designed to cut approximately 5 mm into the rock and
expose the fresh, unweathered surface. During the grinding
operations, the RAT records data such as motor currents, motor
positions, temperature, and instrument state. Torque can be
directly calculated from motor current data and empirically
correlated to the density and hardness of the rock. Combining
these parameters with a close-up view of the fresh surface from
the Microscopic Imager (MI), the scientist should be able to
assess the compositional and the depositional histories of the
rock.
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