Numerical simulation and experimental research on the wheel brush sampling process of an asteroid sampler

Abstract

To examine the environmental characteristics of the microgravity force and the weathered layer on an asteroid surface, a symmetric wheel brush asteroid sampler is proposed for the collection of particles on the asteroid surface. To study the influence of the wheel brush rotation speed on the sampling efficiency and the driving torque required for the wheel brush, the contact dynamics model between particles and sampling wheel brushes is established and a simulation and experimental verification of the sampling process are conducted. The parameter calibration of the sampled particles is studied first, and the calibrated particle parameters are used in the numerical simulation of the sampling process. The sampling results and the particle stream curves are obtained for the working conditions of different rotation speeds, and the effects of different parameter settings on the sampling efficiency are analyzed. In addition, a set of rotating symmetrical sampling wheel brush devices is built for the ground test, and the dynamic torque sensor is used to test the torque change of the wheel brush during the sampling process. The relationship between the speed of the wheel brush and the driving torque of the wheel brush motor is determined by comparing the simulation results with the test results. Results indicate that when the rotating speed of the wheel brush is faster, the sampling efficiency is higher, and the driving torque required for the sampling wheel brush is greater. Moreover, a numerical simulation analysis of the sampling process of the wheel brush sampler in a microgravity environment is conducted to determine the optimal speed condition, and the brushing test of the wheel brush sampler in the microgravity environment is verified with the drop tower method. This research proposes the structural optimization design and motor selection of a wheel brush asteroid sampler, which provides important reference value and engineering significance.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

asteroid sampling / wheel brush sampler / discrete element method / parameter calibration / experimental research

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51975567), the Strategic Priority Research Program on Space Science, CAS (Grant No. XDA1502030505), the independent project of State Key Laboratory of Robotics, China (Grant Nos. 2022-Z01 and 2019-Z06), the Liaoning Revitalization Talents Program, China (Grant No. XLYC1907152), the Youth Innovation Promotion Association, CAS (Grant No. 2018237), the Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province, China (Grant Nos. 2020-MS-029 and 2021-MS-029), and the Development Fund of Space Automation Technology Laboratory, SIA, CAS. We thank LetPub for its linguistic assistance during the preparation of this manuscript.

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