IceMole

The IceMole is a combined drilling and Einschmelzsonde for ice ( Cryobot ). The field of application extends from glaciers on the Antarctic to extra terrestrial regions. Development is the probe by a team at the FH Aachen. The advantage over conventional Einschmelzsonden is that the IceMole by a partial control of the heating segments on the probe head change its direction in the ice and can drill back to the surface in this way again. This is realized via a banjo bolt at the probe tip. With it, the probe can not only take an ice core that can be studied scientifically, but also be drawn from dirt layers.

From the idea to the development

The IceMole is developed via a rapid prototyping process. The first prototype was developed by August 2010 for use on terrestrial glaciers and successfully tested in September on a Swiss glacier. The next generations of Einschmelzsonde should be able to be used in extraterrestrial regions. Possible destinations include the polar regions of Mars, Jupiter 's moon Europa and Saturn 's moon Enceladus.

The probe is developed by a student project team at the Department of Aeronautics and Space Technology FH Aachen under the leadership of Bernd roof forest.

The following objectives, the project team has set itself:

• Terrestrial applications: In 2-3 years: glaciers and ice sheets
• In 4-6 years: The ice and subglacial lakes in Antarctica and Arctic

• In 10-15 years: the ice-covered polar caps of Mars
• In 20-30 years: The Jupiter 's moon Europa and Saturn 's moon Enceladus

At the project high demands are made. The probe is tested not only on reliability and robustness, but also to autonomy and environmental sustainability.

History

The first Einschmelzsonden came back in the 1960s for use. These probes had a simple principle: They were heated at their peak and melted with the help of the gravitational force downwards. The downside was that they were difficult to handle and difficult to control. Conventional ice cores, however, are technically mature and therefore easier to carry out. But they also require a great effort. You need drill pipe, a lot of staff and a laboratory. Therefore, conventional ice cores are not to be used as an autonomous system. The combination of both systems - Einschmelzsonde and ice coring - it allows to exploit the positive features of both methods and eliminate the drawbacks. The IceMole concept is therefore an important approach in order to develop the technology for exploration of ice sheets on.

IceMole 1

The first prototype " IceMole 1" has a square cross -section of 150x150 mm. The square shape is important for the drive system, since the probe head consists not only of a heated copper, but also in the middle of the head has a hollow screw. Therefore, the generated torque of the screw on the geometry must be intercepted. The copper head houses four heating segments that are arranged in a square and can be controlled separately. When only one side of the head is heated and the constant tension of the screw acts on the ice surface, the IceMole can slowly with a radius of ten meters around a curve. The IceMole can move so freely through the ice. The power supply and communication proceeds via a power cable to a ground station on the ice surface, which distributes the data to a PC unit. This cable is unwound during the melting of the probe.

In addition to propulsion, the banjo bolt has another important property: The screw takes in the movement of the ice in an ice core on which runs through the complete probe length. This ice core can be analyzed and evaluated within the system. Scientific instruments that are required for the study, may be incorporated into the probe as the payload. The maneuverability of the IceMole these are again returned to the surface. This was not possible with previous methods because the ice track left behind by the probe freezes again in a non-tempered ice. Einschmelzsonden who are unable to maneuver, so just stay in the ice. The freezing of the ice channel has the positive effect that the probe be decontaminated with a mechanism itself and thus penetrate completed environmental systems can. The probe from contaminants to release is essential in order not to contaminate a closed ecosystem. Such a scenario would be conceivable in a subglacial lake, to which the IceMole could melt through, and then to examine him on biological organisms on site. This in-situ measurement method makes the IceMole a powerful robot that works even under extreme environmental conditions. It is therefore ideal for use in extraterrestrial regions.

Field trials

The first field trial was held on the Morteratschgletscher in the Swiss Engadine in Pontresina in September 2010. The primary objective of this field trial was to test the drive system under real conditions and to prove. This could be shown with the following Bohrszenarien:

• Hole 1.5 m at an angle of 45 ° upwards against gravity
• Bore horizontally with 5 m length
• Hole 3 m at an angle of 45 ° downward, through three layers of sediment (sand) and a curve of 10 m radius

The test results show that the IceMole concept is a viable approach to bring scientific instruments into deep ice and subsequently to recover again. Another advantage of the IceMole over a hole that biological contamination is minimized and the process can be carried out independently in a high degree. The results were presented at the Antarctic Science Symposium 2011 in Madison, Wisconsin ( USA) and the European Geosciences Union 2011 in Vienna, Austria, presented.

IceMole moves against gravity by 45 ° upwards.

The fused channel, viewed from below.

IceMole 2 - URMEL

Since October 2010, the IceMole team developed the prototype intensively. The aim is to optimize the system. For this purpose, a new head shape with twelve heating segments and four side heaters receives the successor " URMEL " for a better and tighter turning radius. In addition, he gets a system designed specifically for these requirements gear, which should make the sensor easier and more efficient.

The power cable is not unwound from the probe, but moved here from the probe in several containers behind him, much like a train with wagons. In addition, these containers sensors can be integrated, which could then be used permanently in the ice. This is for researchers worldwide are of great interest because they can accommodate in the deep ice sensors. The next field trial is planned for the northern hemisphere in the summer of 2012.

The envisaged objectives for the field experiment in 2012 are: