Lunar Rover TRL-6 Drivetrain Development

In 2014, Ontario Drive and Gear Ltd. (ODG), Canadensys Aerospace Corporation, and a number of partners began developing a pair of small to mid-size lunar rover prototypes funded by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). Scheduled to be delivered in the first half of 2016, these lunar rover prototypes will demonstrate the compatibility of the 4-wheel rover mobility architecture developed by ODG over several years with higher technology readiness levels, with a target of achieving qualification to technology readiness level (TRL) 6. Additionally, ODG has developed a lunar wheel that is designed to remain compliant over a wide thermal range, thereby increasing tractive effort in both soft and rocky surfaces.