UPCD Ultrasonic Planetary Core Drill
ULTRASONIC PLANETARY CORE DRILL: OVERVIEW AND RESULTS FROM FIELD TRIAL
Kevin Worrall ASTRA 2017
Overview
• Ultrasonic Planetary Core Drill
• FP7 Funded Project
• “aimed to develop a planetary sub-surface sample acquisition system, developing the required drill hardware and testing it in a Mars analogue environment in Antarctica.”
• Consortium – University of Glasgow (UK), SSF (Finland),
Lidax (Spain) and Magna Parva (UK)
UPCD I
• Uses Ultrasonic Percussive Technology
• Assembles the Drill String in-situ
• Disassembles the Drill String
• Containerises Samples
• Autonomous Drilling Cycle
• Aim to have a system that is space-ready – Design choices made with space and planetary
environment in mind
• Expandable Architecture
UPCD II
• Current Non-Optimised Configuration:
– 30cm Drill Depth • 10cm Drill bits
– 6-8mm Core Diameter
– 25Kg
– Power (Idle) 10W
– Power (Drilling) 60-80W (min 40W, peaks 120W)
– WOB 10-20N
UPCD III
• Primary Systems
–Drill Tool
–Linear Actuator
–Carousel
–Electronics Box
–Clamp
Drilling Control Loop
• Autonomous Drill Loop
• Bang-Bang Controller
• Target US power selected – Actual Power > (Target +
10%): DT back one step
– Actual Power < (Target - 10%): DT forward one step
• Parameters: – Target Drill Power
– Margin
– Step time
Bayonets
• Major Design Feature • Simple Stud-and-Groove
Connection • Four basic designs:
– Male – Female L-Type – Female T-Type – Special
• Allows all assembly/disassembly operations to be carried out
• Allows reverse rotation of Drill String
Drill Bits
• Two Types
– Cutting Bit
– Drill Pipe
• Male Bayonets
• Internal Female Bayonets
• Core Catcher
– Development On-going
Operational Concept
• Operations – Load Bit – Core – Detach – Mate – Disassemble – Deposit – Load Lid – Lock – Retract – Home – Hibernate – Drill
• 54 Movements
Laboratory Testing I
• Materials
– Sandstone (Dry/Frozen) • 30cm (30cm target)
– Limestone • 10cm (10cm target)
– Simulant Permafrost • 20cm (20cm target)
Laboratory Testing II
• WOB
– 10-20N
• Power Draw (US)
– 10W
• Operational Testing
– Demonstrated
Field Testing I
• Deployed to Coal Nunatak, Alexander Island, Antarctica – Accessible – Historical Average
temperature -10°C
• On Arrival – Frost Polygons – Temperature -3°C – Deep Active Layer
Present
Field Testing II
• Basic Operations demonstrated
• Drilling demonstrated • Performance not as
expected – Desired drill depths not
obtained
• Current theory Auger performance not as expected – Larger margin for the
torque and speed required
• >10W drilling power may be required
Field Testing III
Frozen Samples
Applied Technology
• Subglacial Bedrock Sampler
• Rock Boring Head for Rapid Access Isotope Drill (RAID)
• Rotary-Percussive Drilling system
• Heritage and Experience from UPCD
• Collaboration with British Antarctic Survey (BAS)
Further Work and Conclusion
• Auger power increase
• Drilling performance increase
• Reliability of full operational concept increase
• Improved drilling algorithm
• Achieve fully autonomous operation
• Overall UPCD currently at TRL 3 with some elements higher
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no 607015
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