FAQs

Q. Could we have more information on the Kilopower Connector?

A. 

  1. The connector will be represented by a 150ml aluminium drinks can, filled with expanding foam to help keep rigidity but also maintain its lightweight properties.
  2. The connector end will be magnetised to assist with the connection into the PDU.
  3. The connector will be stowed in a docking station as shown in diagram A at the end of this page.
  4. Approx 50mm of the connector will be visible to grab onto.
  5. The height off the ground of the connector inside of the dock will be within the operating area defined in the PDU drawing.
  6. The cable will be fixed at both ends (Kilopower site and connector). UKSEDS volunteers will be able to assist on the day if cable gets caught on any rocks or knotted at kilopower site, however, you must consider how you can traverse the martian terrain without getting the cable tangled with your rover.

 

Q. Could we have more information on the Power Distribution Unit?

A. 

  1. There will be a centralised PDU that the three Kilopower connectors will connect to.
  2. 6 sockets on the PDU (3 correct and 3 red herrings) so emphasis on the ability to correctly identify the corresponding socket with the connector via AprilTag.
  3. The PDU will looks something like in diagram B at the end of this page.
  4. Minimum height of connector socket will be 75mm and maximum 250mm. This defines the operating area the connector must be able move within as shown in diagram C at the end of this page.

 

Q. Could we have more information on the AprilTag?

A.

  1. Low-fidelity QR type code used in robotics and for tool tagging. 
  2. Size of AprilTag is yet to be defined, however, it will not be positioned on any curved surface and we will ensure that the size is selected so that standard off the shelf cameras typically used for this competition are able to pick up the code from a reasonable distance.

 

Q. Could we have more information on the Competition day and the operating area?

A.

  1. Full operating area is show in diagram D at the end of this page.
  2. Ensure your Rover is capable of operating in the full shaded area. Depending on the number of teams we have on the competition day, there may be one team at a time doing the test across the whole area or two teams split into half of the area. So plan for the full operating area for the speed and batteries.
  3. Teams will have 5 mins at the start of their test to look at the operating area and then all operations must be performed with no visual line of sight (so must rely on the systems on board the rover and the telemetry).

 

DIAGRAM A

DIAGRAM B

DIAGRAM C

DIAGRAM D