Mars Rover Wheel

This is the wheel that they used for the Spirit and Opportunity Mars Rovers currently running about on . . . Mars.

It's really light, and machined from a solid block of aluminum using a 3D CNC mill.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• mars
• rover
• wheel
• spirit
• opportunity

[davidthefat]

Was that at JPL? Do they have tours frequently? I literally live 5 minutes away from JPL, never really went inside except for my 3rd grade field trip long time ago...

[palmisano]

@davidthefat This was in DC. This wheel really gets around, as I've held it a half dozen times over the last ~5 years. This time I decided to film it for other people to see . . .

[mtnbikerET]

It looks like they copied you idea of the shocks built into the wheels ;)

[palmisano]

@mtnbikerET They actually made these wheels before I made mine, I just didn't know about it until after I made mine. And actually, these shocks are only for the crash landing on Mars, as the robot moves too slowly to need shocks on the terrain.

[FutureInventions]

Wow! Cool! I see the curved spokes give it a little flexibility right?

[palmisano]

@FutureInventions Sort of. The curves are meant to absorb the very high frequency shock when the lander first 'crash lands' on Mars. The rovers are *very* slow, so they do not need shocks for normal movement.

[SquirrelFromGradLife]

Literally reinventing the wheel...

[LancairPropJet]

Screw those. I can get you some 22's man. Real cheap. Hit me up.

[Trailtraveller]

very nice to see greetings mrwizard

[FutureInventions]

@palmisano Interesting.