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