Audi's New Lunar Rover Set to Launch in 2018
Audi remains on schedule to deliver two rovers to the moon by next year. The luxury car manufacturer has been hard at work fine-tuning its space exploration vehicles over the last few months, upgrading various parts with the company’s renowned automotive technologies and with assistance from the group “Part-Time Scientists”. If successful, the group could receive a $30 million prize from Google.
1. A unique partnership
Audi partnered with a unique group called “Part-Time Scientists” to launch the lunar rover. The group consists of 35 engineers spread across three continents and the partnership was agreed upon in an effort to win the $30 million Google Lunar XPrize. This was a contest that rewards the first private team that can get a rover to the Moon, remotely drive it at least 500 meters, and send back high-resolution images.
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2. Constant, on-going upgrades
The “Part-Time Scientists” have been working alongside 16 Audi employees over the last several months, refining the rover design by enlarging the vehicle and its wheels, and improving its stability. They’ve also improved the rover by shedding 17 pounds off its weight via “an optimum mix of materials” as well as 3D printing.
>>Join the conversation about Audi's New Lunar Rover right here in Audiworld.com.
3. Outfitted with a TON of technology
The Audi rover will use four cameras to navigate its way around the lunar surface. These cameras will also provide 360-degree photos to send back to Earth. The Lunar Quattro, as it’s being called, will also feature Audi’s famous all-wheel-drive technology, courtesy of an electric motor on each of its wheels, though its top speed will be just 2.2 MPH. “Double wishbone suspensions are used at all four of the wheels that can each be rotated over 360 degrees,” Audi said. “Four-wheel hub motors power the drive system - their interplay makes the rover an e-quattro.”
>>Join the conversation about Audi's New Lunar Rover right here in Audiworld.com.
4. How are they getting to the moon?
Two Lunar quattros will board a landing module called the Alina, which will be attached to a Space X Falcon 9 rocket (a place on which costs $130 million). Also on the ship will research equipment from other entities, including NASA, the European Space Agency, and Wikipedia. The planned location for the landing is the 1972 landing site of Apollo 17 – the last manned mission to reach the moon. The Audi / Part-Time Scientists group hopes to secure a photo of the Audi 17 lunar rover that was left there when the crew returned to Earth.
>>Join the conversation about Audi's New Lunar Rover right here in Audiworld.com.
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