Design and Development of a Modular Bucket Drum Excavator for Lunar ISRU

TL;DR

This paper introduces a modular bucket drum excavator prototype for lunar regolith excavation, demonstrating efficient performance and compatibility with the MoonBot robotic system, advancing lunar resource utilization technology.

Contribution

It presents a novel, modular excavator design for lunar applications, tested with a 3D-printed prototype, enhancing lunar ISRU capabilities.

Findings

Excavation rate of 777.54 kg/h with low energy consumption

Prototype weighs 4.8 kg and has a volume of 14.06 L

Successful implementation of modular lunar excavation tool

Abstract

In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) is one of the key technologies for enabling sustainable access to the Moon. The ability to excavate lunar regolith is the first step in making lunar resources accessible and usable. This work presents the development of a bucket drum for the modular robotic system MoonBot, as part of the Japanese Moonshot program. A 3D-printed prototype made of PLA was manufactured to evaluate its efficiency through a series of sandbox tests. The resulting tool weighs 4.8 kg and has a volume of 14.06 L. It is capable of continuous excavation at a rate of 777.54 kg/h with a normalized energy consumption of 0.022 Wh/kg. In batch operation, the excavation rate is 172.02 kg/h with a normalized energy consumption of 0.86 Wh per kilogram of excavated material. The obtained results demonstrate the successful implementation of the concept. A key advantage of the developed tool is its compatibility with the modular MoonBot robotic platform, which enables flexible and efficient mission planning. Further improvements may include the integration of sensors and an autonomous control system to enhance the excavation process.