ATHENE
Autonomous Terrain Handling and Environmental Navigation Experiment
ATHENE is our association’s first rover project. It primarily serves as a demonstration device for various technological aspects of a rover, such as chassis design and various sensor technologies for mapping and navigation.
The rover is funded and primarily financed by the Innovation Campus Mobility of the Future, which allows us to use state-of-the-art sensors and on-board computers. It is being developed in collaboration with the Institute of Space Systems (IRS) at the University of Stuttgart, which has many years of experience in the field of space robotics.
For us as an association, the rover offers an opportunity to create a platform on which we can build in the future. This platform will enable us to participate in competitions such as the ERC (European Rover Challenge) in Krakow, Poland, in a more advanced form and to gain further valuable experience in the field of space robotics.
Our Payloads
InnovationsCampus –
Mobility of the Future
The Innovation Campus Mobility of the Future (ICM) is a joint research initiative of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the University of Stuttgart. The aim of the ICM is to develop innovative technologies and solutions for the sustainable mobility and production of tomorrow through interdisciplinary cooperation. In doing so, expertise from various fields is pooled in order to actively shape change in the automotive and mechanical engineering industries.
Since its founding in 2019, the ICM has built up an extensive innovation ecosystem. With over 130 projects and a budget of €65 million, it is one of the largest research initiatives for sustainable mobility and related production technologies.
In February 2021, the state government of Baden-Württemberg decided to provide the ICM with an additional €50 million in funding to further expand research in the areas of zero-emission mobility, software-defined mobility, and software-defined manufacturing. This investment underscores the importance of the ICM for the future development of mobility and production technologies and its role as a driving force for innovation in the region.
Curious?
The ICM website provides a useful overview of many other projects that contribute to the topic of future mobility.
It’s worth a visit!
Timeline
budget Approval
The time has finally come: thanks to generous funding from the ICM (Innovation Campus – Mobility of the Future), KSat can now launch its first rover project! The primary goal is to develop a lightweight rover chassis with enough sensors to enable potentially autonomous navigation and inspire young researchers.
Budget Deadline
Our financial resources must be spent by the end of the year.
Presentation of the Rover
The rover will be used as a demonstration device at many events in the coming years. Come and visit us at Science Day, TryScience Day, and many other events!
Space Robotics
Space robotics plays a crucial role in the exploration of our solar system. Interplanetary exploration rovers, such as NASA’s Curiosity and Perseverance rovers, have made significant contributions to Mars research in recent years. Perseverance landed on Mars in February 2021 and has since been searching for signs of past life by collecting soil samples and studying the planet’s geology. These rovers are equipped with advanced instruments that enable them to analyze the Martian surface in detail and send valuable data back to Earth.
In Europe, the European Space Agency (ESA) is contributing to interplanetary exploration with missions such as Rosetta and ExoMars. Rosetta studied comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, while ExoMars aims to investigate Mars for traces of life. These missions demonstrate the importance of space robotics for understanding celestial bodies and searching for extraterrestrial life.
The Institute of Space Systems (IRS) at the University of Stuttgart is actively involved in space robotics. The Space Robotics Working Group develops rover systems for the exploration of planetary surfaces. The focus is on the development of rover chassis systems and technologies that can be used under the demanding conditions on planetary surfaces. In addition, the IRS works on mechanism design, integration, and testing, as well as on the development of sensor components for navigation and environmental detection.
We want you!
Has ATHENE sparked your interest? We are always looking for new members!
Whether you are just starting your first semester or are already an aerospace expert, and regardless of what you are studying, we can find an exciting position for everyone in our team. All of our projects are organized into subsystems that are responsible for different areas. If you already know what you are interested in, please contact us!
Participation in ATHENE is voluntary or possible as part of the subject-related SQ Internship CubeSat Technology if you are studying at the University of Stuttgart. Participation in SQ is also possible as part of our SOURCE and SOURCE-2 projects! Three ECTS credits are awarded for participation.
ATHENE Subsystems
Project Management
Our all-rounders who hold the project together. They keep an eye on deadlines, manage communication, and organize team events. Experienced association members create the framework for a successful project.
Structure
The structure subsystem deals with the mechanical part of the rover, primarily the development of the chassis. This includes the design of the wheel suspensions (in our case via three bogies), the design of the wheels and primary drives, and the layout of the components in the PLC (payload cabin).
Electronics
In addition to selecting suitable components, the electronics team is also responsible for the electronic design of the individual sensors and actuators as well as the overall system. Circuit boards, some of which were developed in-house, are used to implement everything from the power supply and rover control to data communication and storage.
Software
Software runs on both our main computer and every other microcontroller to ensure rover operation and communication between components. The team must address the specific challenges posed by the sensors and the SLAM algorithm. If the software doesn’t work, the project doesn’t work!
Current SQ-Workpackages
Calls for applications for the new semester will be published at the start of the coming semester.
Supporters and Sponsors
