With new findings of water, and perhaps alien bases, the exploration of the moon is becoming quite popular again. So it only seems logical that researchers created a new prototype lunar rover. Called the Lunar Exploration Light Rover, from McGill University, the design features ‘iRing’ wheels that are made of an external chainmail fabric filled with granular particulate matter; sort of like a metal bean-bag chair shaped like a wheel. This distinctive design provides both flexibility and sturdiness when travelling over extremely bumpy lunar terrain. Such highly developed wheels may offer Earthly applications, too, such as for vehicles which need to travel over rubble caused by civil or natural disasters. LELR will be the new Canadian lunar rover that will be tested for lunar exploration missions to carry payloads, cargo and crew, as well as enable drilling and excavation, manipulator and tool integration, and vision and state-of-the-art communications systems. There is still no word as of yet if the new rover can be ‘outfitted’ with plasma cannons or rail guns that would be needed to fend off any alien incursions but we can only hope. The final prototype of the lunar rover is expected to roll out in the spring of 2012. For more information about the LELR please visit: http://publications.mcgill.ca/reporter/2010/11/you-think-driving-here-is-rough-imagine-the-metropolitan-on-the-moon/
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