A Sample Repetitive Manipulation Mechanism (SRMM) for Lunar Regolith In-Situ Analysis: Design and Validation

To exactly detect the water ice of the South Pole of the moon, a lunar regolith in-situ analysis payload deploying a mass spectrometer is proposed for China future lunar exploration missions. In order to receive the lunar regolith sample from a robotic arm with a soil sampler and transfer it into a furnace for further analysis, a sample manipulation mechanism is required during the above work flow. To solve the problems of adapting the sampler’s docking accuracy, receiving and transferring two different types of lunar soil sample under times of in-situ analysis, etc., a sample repetitive manipulation mechanism (SRMM) is proposed in this paper. By using a floating adjustable docking components and a flexible hopper, two types of encapsulated regolith sample and bulk material sample can be received with minimal sample loss, respectively. In order to receive and transfer two types of samples multiple times, two sample receiving methods have been designed that can be repeatedly transferred. A worm and worm wheel combined with a ball screw is designed in SRMM. To verify the above mechanism design, validation experiments were conducted. It indicates that this novel SRMM can be deployed in the future mission after further environmental tests.