I had previously proposed a nuclear battery design that utilizes a radioactive material as heat source and carbon dioxide as the heat exchanger gas. The efficiency of this battery depends on the temperature difference between the warm and cold gas reservoir. Mars and other celestial bodies further away from the sun have very low surface temperatures. Ideal for the battery. I would like to propose a rover that utilizes this battery for surface exploration.
The rover will have two big wheels that is made of aluminum magnesium alloy for strength and heat conductivity. The wheels will be filled with carbon dioxide and serve as the cold reservoir for the nuclear battery. The wheels will be driven by the gas pressure generated between the warm and cold reservoirs. The rover will have all the controls and the warm reservoir in the middle section between the two wheels. There will be two arms attached to this middle section as well. These arms will also operate by the pressurized gas. They will be used to grab samples from the surface and most importantly assist the wheel during ascent or descent on the uneven terrain.
The mechanical sections of the rover will be directly powered by the pressurized gas. This will enable more efficient use of the nuclear energy, instead of converting kinetic energy to electricity and converting electricity into kinetic energy again. Only part of this energy will be used to generate electricity for the electronics and the sensors. The warm gas will also keep the sensitive equipment at the right temperature. Large wheels will allow the rover to advance faster on rugged terrain compared to multiple small ones.
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