Continuing with our series of worldbuilding insights, we present a first - work in progress - look at one of our Martian infrastructure robots, namely our ‘’Mars Duster - or RegoVac Custodian’’.
We wanted to give some insight into this very earliest stage of conceptualization, where our team looks at a potential problem that real-life Martian pioneers would face and assesses the available and viable science to lead us to a solution, before creating our initial concept sketches.
Everdome’s commitment to a realistic and entertaining Martian metaverse experience informed by science means that we need to take a look at methods to deal with the frequent dust storms encountered on Mars, and management of the resulting regolith - meaning a blanket of unconsolidated and loose deposits of dust and broken rocks.
Dust mitigation on Mars is crucial for the wellbeing of the pioneering explorers and the preservation of infrastructure across the whole of Everdome’s future civilization on the Martian surface.
Our Jezero Spaceport on Mars will rely on this innovative and advanced piece of utility equipment to maintain the safety and efficiency of its landing strip. This groundbreaking robot is essential for managing the Martian regolith and mitigating dust hazards for the Phoenix Shuttles
The RegoVac Custodian is a scientific marvel standing at a towering 40 meters tall and spanning a width of 112 meters. Its design features a massive vacuum nozzle at the front, equipped with advanced electrostatic dust collection technology for efficient regolith removal.
Such technology leverages the electrostatic charge of Martian dust particles to attract and capture them, ensuring effective dust mitigation. The nozzle is capable of both vacuuming and blowing regolith, offering maximum flexibility in clearing the 8km landing strip.
As the RegoVac Custodian collects regolith, it directs the particles into an innovative compression system located within the robot's body. Utilizing high-pressure hydraulic compactors and heat treatment, this system forms the regolith into sturdy, interlocking bricks. These bricks are suitable as raw material for 3D printing or construction projects, contributing to the sustainable development of infrastructure on Mars.
The RegoVac Custodian operates autonomously, with advanced AI and machine learning algorithms allowing adaptation to the ever-changing Martian environment and terrain. Its built-in sensors detect and analyze surface conditions, enabling adjustment of cleaning methods accordingly. The Custodian is also equipped with state-of-the-art self-diagnostic systems, ensuring minimal maintenance downtime.
Designed with environmental sustainability in mind, its energy-efficient systems are powered by an array of solar panels and advanced batteries, reducing reliance on non-renewable resources. The robot also contributes to in-situ resource utilization by transforming collected regolith into usable construction material for buildings and roads.
Everdome keeps working to build layers of detail into our Martian environment as development towards our Mars landing experience continues.
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