Detection of Lunar Regolith Acquired by Excavator Using Radiofrequency (RF) Sensors
This paper presents the concept of a radiofrequency (RF) sensor designed to estimate the mass of the regolith acquired by a sampling device or excavator in planetary environments. The sensor utilizes a microstrip line with an open end as the sensing element, with the mass estimation based on measure...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/3/751 |
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| author | Krzysztof Kurek Karol Seweryn Arkadiusz Tkacz Gunter Just |
| author_facet | Krzysztof Kurek Karol Seweryn Arkadiusz Tkacz Gunter Just |
| author_sort | Krzysztof Kurek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper presents the concept of a radiofrequency (RF) sensor designed to estimate the mass of the regolith acquired by a sampling device or excavator in planetary environments. The sensor utilizes a microstrip line with an open end as the sensing element, with the mass estimation based on measurements of the phase of the reflection coefficient (S11 of the scattering matrix) for the line immersed in the regolith. The Rotary Clamshell Excavator (RCE) was employed for the experimental evaluation of the sensor’s performance. The RCE successfully passed an environmental test campaign, demonstrating its suitability for future lunar missions. The test results indicate that the RF sensor can estimate the mass of the acquired regolith with reasonable accuracy, approximately 15%, making it a viable solution for rough mass estimation in sampling devices and excavators. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-97c7fbd2ecaf4eeebfb7525043ee7489 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj-art-97c7fbd2ecaf4eeebfb7525043ee74892025-08-20T02:12:30ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-01-0125375110.3390/s25030751Detection of Lunar Regolith Acquired by Excavator Using Radiofrequency (RF) SensorsKrzysztof Kurek0Karol Seweryn1Arkadiusz Tkacz2Gunter Just3Institute of Radioelectronics and Multimedia Technology, Warsaw University of Technology, 00-665 Warsaw, PolandSpace Research Centre Polish Academy of Sciences, 00-716 Warsaw, PolandSpace Research Centre Polish Academy of Sciences, 00-716 Warsaw, PolandRobotics Section, ESTEC, European Space Agency (ESA), 2201 AZ Noordwijk, The NetherlandsThis paper presents the concept of a radiofrequency (RF) sensor designed to estimate the mass of the regolith acquired by a sampling device or excavator in planetary environments. The sensor utilizes a microstrip line with an open end as the sensing element, with the mass estimation based on measurements of the phase of the reflection coefficient (S11 of the scattering matrix) for the line immersed in the regolith. The Rotary Clamshell Excavator (RCE) was employed for the experimental evaluation of the sensor’s performance. The RCE successfully passed an environmental test campaign, demonstrating its suitability for future lunar missions. The test results indicate that the RF sensor can estimate the mass of the acquired regolith with reasonable accuracy, approximately 15%, making it a viable solution for rough mass estimation in sampling devices and excavators.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/3/751Moon explorationRF sensorsregolith (soil) mass determinationregolith sampling/acquisition |
| spellingShingle | Krzysztof Kurek Karol Seweryn Arkadiusz Tkacz Gunter Just Detection of Lunar Regolith Acquired by Excavator Using Radiofrequency (RF) Sensors Sensors Moon exploration RF sensors regolith (soil) mass determination regolith sampling/acquisition |
| title | Detection of Lunar Regolith Acquired by Excavator Using Radiofrequency (RF) Sensors |
| title_full | Detection of Lunar Regolith Acquired by Excavator Using Radiofrequency (RF) Sensors |
| title_fullStr | Detection of Lunar Regolith Acquired by Excavator Using Radiofrequency (RF) Sensors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Detection of Lunar Regolith Acquired by Excavator Using Radiofrequency (RF) Sensors |
| title_short | Detection of Lunar Regolith Acquired by Excavator Using Radiofrequency (RF) Sensors |
| title_sort | detection of lunar regolith acquired by excavator using radiofrequency rf sensors |
| topic | Moon exploration RF sensors regolith (soil) mass determination regolith sampling/acquisition |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/3/751 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT krzysztofkurek detectionoflunarregolithacquiredbyexcavatorusingradiofrequencyrfsensors AT karolseweryn detectionoflunarregolithacquiredbyexcavatorusingradiofrequencyrfsensors AT arkadiusztkacz detectionoflunarregolithacquiredbyexcavatorusingradiofrequencyrfsensors AT gunterjust detectionoflunarregolithacquiredbyexcavatorusingradiofrequencyrfsensors |