The Rocker-Bogie system NASA uses on its Mars rovers has always fascinated me due to its specificity. While ineffective at high speeds, it's a simple mechanical solution to navigating rough, unknown terrain on planets with gravity different from Earth's. The design is optimized to keep six points of contact with the Martain surface to prevent the autonomous vehicle from getting stuck on a foreign planet.

The model suspension system project began in late 2017, when I built the first version for a high school science fair project. After several failed laser cut iterations, I cut the model out of cardboard and cemented it together in layers in my parents' basement. The rover design features a free rotating front rocker, and counter rotating differential gearbox to mimic the effect of a sway bar on NASA's rovers.