This sample has be taken from the 2016-2017 report submitted for and awarded the Neil Armstrong Best Design Award.
*Any typos or grammatical errors appeared in the original document.
We are very fortunate. As a result of the emphasis our school places on STEM, our administration has entrusted our team with a robust budget. Our rover and the trip to Alabama are supported by the school’s operational budget. This year, we have also been fortunate to cultivate three key sponsors (American Water Jet and KS Analytical Systems) who have supported our work by allowing us to utilize machining equipment free of charge to cut components to learn more about fabrication. Truxx Outfitters donated the truck bed liner material for our wheels.
Our goal this year was to have the entire cost of the rover (including telemetry system) come in at $4,000.00. The last three years have allowed us to streamline our frame design minimizing cost. In our attempt to build a lighter rover, we opted to use aluminum in some places, which is more expensive than steel, but in terms of course performance we think it worth the investment. Additionally, this year we have opted to build a four-wheel drive rover that utilizes two differentials. These were also a financial investment, but again we felt one important to our overall performance. We are pleased to share that the final cost of our 2017-rover project is $3,979.96, the cost breakout of our major systems is below: