Ultrasonic Drill Tool (05-07)


The Ultrasonic Drill Tool (UDT) had to develop a device for ultrasonically-assisted drilling and sampling of planetary rocks and regolith.
 
The tool transforms low displacement, high frequency oscillations in a transducer into higher displacement vibration at the tip, which effectively cuts into material.

Benefits of the UDT compared to conventional rock percussion drills:

  • Low axial (thrust) force required
  • Lower power consumption than conventional percussion drilling
  • The possibility of operation from lightweight drill platforms and arms
  • Low drill bit wear
  • Good material removal rates
  • Potentially higher efficiency
  • Smaller envelope
  • Low sensitivity to axial (thrust) force variations, which is very significant when considering an autonomous, relatively flexible drilling platform
  • Lower parts count – no mechanism is required for cutting
The UDT is designed so that a single tool can be used for:
  • Drilling through regolith and rock
  • Extracting cores from rock, both above and below the surface
  • Extracting unconsolidated samples from above and below the surface

 
 
Ultrasonic Drill Tool & plunger positions in corer
 
Ultrasonic Drill Tool & plunger positions in corer
 
 
 
 As well as creating the tuned mechanical design, the project team has developed a novel ‘auto resonant’ control system, which keeps the resonance of the UDT in tune and working at optimum efficiency, independent of the loading conditions.

The tool was tested in a variety of materials, and the results of these tests are being used to make improvements to the design. Typical UDT performances in a relatively hard material such as granite are:

  • Required thrust force 8-10N
  • 23mm diameter core
  • 12mm deep core cut in ~140 min.
  • Uses less than 40 W power
  • Cut is clean and does not fracture core
This development study was carried out for ESA by a team of Magna Parva (UK) - which has close links with former team members from universities of Leicester and Aberdeen through past Beagle 2 development activities.
 
 
Ultrasonic Drill Tool coring test results
 
Ultrasonic Drill Tool coring test results
 
 
 
  
Last update: 2 February 2011

 •  Sampling Devices for Planetary Exploration (http://www.esa.int/TEC/mechanisms/SEM9Y856JGG_0.html)

Soil sampling devices

 •  SSA/DT (95-97) (http://www.esa.int/TEC/mechanisms/SEMBD956JGG_0.html)
 •  CNSR SAS-1m (90-95) (http://www.esa.int/TEC/mechanisms/SEMT3956JGG_0.html)
 •  CNSR– SAS-3m (88-90) (http://www.esa.int/TEC/mechanisms/SEMW1956JGG_0.html)

Mars and future planets

 •  Drill with hammering mechanism (DHM) (05-07) (http://www.esa.int/TEC/mechanisms/SEMUDCY1LJG_0.html)
 •  Instrumented Mole System (IMS) (02-06) (http://www.esa.int/TEC/mechanisms/SEMS2BY1LJG_0.html)
 •  Sampling Mole (99-02) (http://www.esa.int/TEC/mechanisms/SEML6A56JGG_0.html)
 •  Mobile Penetrometer: “Mole” (96-97) (http://www.esa.int/TEC/mechanisms/SEMZY956JGG_0.html)
 •  Mobile Instrument Deployment Device (MIDD) (94-02) (http://www.esa.int/TEC/mechanisms/SEMCEA56JGG_0.html)
 •  Current and future developments (http://www.esa.int/TEC/mechanisms/SEM6FA56JGG_0.html)