No Winches on Mars: Spirit Rover Stuck For 1.5 Years, Probably Forever

[cjforumadmin]

http://www.bangshift.com/blog/No-Winches-on-Mars-Spirit-Rover-Stuck-For-1.5-Years-Probably-Forever.html

[squirrel]

Re: No Winches on Mars: Spirit Rover Stuck For 1.5 Years, Probably Forever

I didn't realize that two wheels are dead now. One wheel had been seized for a long time, if the two dead wheels on this one are seized, then it's not a 4x4, it's a 6x4 with parking brakes on the two non-driving wheels. not easy to move like that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_rover#Equipment_wear_and_failures

One of the guys who works with the FIRST robot things was involved with the rovers, his forum signature says "my other car is on mars"

[Brad54]

Re: No Winches on Mars: Spirit Rover Stuck For 1.5 Years, Probably Forever

That's pretty cool.
I'm surprised it's not a tracked vehicle.
Seems like there'd be a lot fewer moving or driven parts to fail.
-Brad

[squirrel]

Re: No Winches on Mars: Spirit Rover Stuck For 1.5 Years, Probably Forever

Tracks are heavy, and making tracks that would allow the rover to traverse the terrain that the 6wd system allows would be way too heavy for this thing. The drive system on the robot is incredibly lightweight and nimble, unfortunately the drive is also the most likely part to fail, simply because it's subject to the most variety of damaging things, as well as load, etc

still, getting that kind of life out it (with a 90 day design life) is pretty good.

[Mike-Casella]

Re: No Winches on Mars: Spirit Rover Stuck For 1.5 Years, Probably Forever

Send me up there, I'll fix the damn thing. Sheesh!

[Blazerteam]

Re: No Winches on Mars: Spirit Rover Stuck For 1.5 Years, Probably Forever

Off roadin Mars ;D.NASA should send Peewee from 4wheel and off road up there ;D

[Mike-Casella]

Re: No Winches on Mars: Spirit Rover Stuck For 1.5 Years, Probably Forever

I changed my mind, that thing isn't old enough for me to know anything about. :P

[Blazerteam]

Re: No Winches on Mars: Spirit Rover Stuck For 1.5 Years, Probably Forever

I changed my mind, that thing isn't old enough for me to know anything about. :P

Could be a serious way of have to learn something fast ;D.

[Brian Lohnes]

Re: No Winches on Mars: Spirit Rover Stuck For 1.5 Years, Probably Forever

"Mars to Earth Base"

"Go ahead Mike"

"Yeah, we have a HUGE friggin problem"

"What's the problem, Mike?"

"When I took this job you said that this was an '04"

"It is, Mike"

"I was thinking 1904!"

[Mike-Casella]

Re: No Winches on Mars: Spirit Rover Stuck For 1.5 Years, Probably Forever

With my luck, I'd run into Abbott and Costello.

[threedoor]

Re: No Winches on Mars: Spirit Rover Stuck For 1.5 Years, Probably Forever

I wish my stuff was as reliable as that thing.

[TheSilverBuick]

Re: No Winches on Mars: Spirit Rover Stuck For 1.5 Years, Probably Forever

I check on the Rover page at least twice a week (since it launched, I even have/read Squire's Book). Where did you get it's been stuck for a year and a half? It's only been stuck since last May, maybe April.

[Mike-Casella]

Re: No Winches on Mars: Spirit Rover Stuck For 1.5 Years, Probably Forever

Ya Mr. Editor, what's up with that. ???

[Scott Liggett]

Re: No Winches on Mars: Spirit Rover Stuck For 1.5 Years, Probably Forever

Tracks are heavy, and making tracks that would allow the rover to traverse the terrain that the 6wd system allows would be way too heavy for this thing. The drive system on the robot is incredibly lightweight and nimble, unfortunately the drive is also the most likely part to fail, simply because it's subject to the most variety of damaging things, as well as load, etc

still, getting that kind of life out it (with a 90 day design life) is pretty good.

Sounds like a problem you and the kids should tackle. Build the better Mars Rover. You have the back yard to test it.

[TheSilverBuick]

Re: No Winches on Mars: Spirit Rover Stuck For 1.5 Years, Probably Forever

Tracks are heavy, and making tracks that would allow the rover to traverse the terrain that the 6wd system allows would be way too heavy for this thing. The drive system on the robot is incredibly lightweight and nimble, unfortunately the drive is also the most likely part to fail, simply because it's subject to the most variety of damaging things, as well as load, etc

still, getting that kind of life out it (with a 90 day design life) is pretty good.

Sounds like a problem you and the kids should tackle. Build the better Mars Rover. You have the back yard to test it.

Keep in mind, it was designed for a 90 day run and a few hundred feet of travel.