Australia’s largest covered lunar testing facility is being built at QUT’s Kelvin Grove campus. The AUD $7-million lunar testbed is designed to test planetary rover missions in realistic conditions, as well as space equipment such as sensing. The facility is expected to be open for use by external partners in early 2024.
Yandiwanba (Yan-dee-wan-ba) means ‘to go from below to above’, ‘from the ground to a higher place, or way way above’, in the Yagarabul language. The name was provided by Gaja (Elder) Aunty Kerry Charlton.
Figure 1: General design of the facility, front view
The lunar testbed area of the facility has the following specifications and capabilities:
- 19m x 11.4m rectangular yard filled with lunar regolith simulant
- Note aspects such as particle size distribution, soil composition as well as optical properties have been considered, while keeping the material safe to operate around without the requirement of wearing complete PPE)
- Overhead gantry crane covering the whole testbed area.
- 9 overhead cameras with combined field of view covering the entire testbed area
- Lunar-gravity-simulation mechanism (using the gantry crane to lift some of the weight of a rover).
- Minimum ceiling height in the testbed space: 4m. Maximum: 8m
- Natural sunlight throughout the space, from ceiling and floor-to-ceiling large windows, with option to use controlled lighting at night.
- Large doors over about half of the length of the testbed can be open on both sides, providing the option to extend the navigation testing area to the outside of the building.
- Walkway all around the testbed for easy access and observation.
Figure 2: Design of the facility, side view
The facility also includes:
- Fully equipped workshop adjacent to the test area, with direct access for rovers and people via a ramp.
- Control room adjacent to the test area, with large monitoring screen, AV system and desks.
- Meeting room equipped with AV, including large screen and video-conferencing capability (about 10-people capacity).
- Equipped kitchenette and lounge area.
- WC and Shower.
- External landscaping area (approx. 20m x 15m) that can be used as additional outdoor rover testing area, including drone pad for drone operations.
Contacts:
Dr Thierry Peynot
Associate Professor, QUT Centre for Robotics
Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
Gardens Point Campus, 2 George St., Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
Email: t.peynot@qut.edu.au
Ali Buchberger
Director, Industry Engagement, Chancellery Division
Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
Gardens Point Campus, 2 George St., Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
Email: ali.buchberger@qut.edu.au