Subsurface Access & Sampling
Ultrasonic Coring Devices
Product Features
Ultrasonic Corer breadboard
Honeybee Robotics is developing two ultrasonic technologies.
An ultrasonic corer, based on a novel ultrasonically actuated sampler prototyped by JPL’s Non-Destructive Evaluation & Advanced Actuator lab, is being developed for a Mars-bound sampler. Honeybee is developing this corer under NASA’s Astrobiology Science & Technology for Exploring Planets funding program.
The device produces ultrasonic vibration, converts the vibration to the sonic range, and uses percussive action to penetrate rock with very low static and dynamic loads. Honeybee’s effort is primarily in mechanism design, but also adding functionality and complying with flight hardware protocol.
Honeybee Robotics is also working on an ultrasonic sampler that will penetrate the Martian surface and extract and handle samples. Honeybee is working with JPL’s Non-Destructive Evaluation & Advanced Actuator lab to add functionality to the sampler design and develop it toward a robotic, flight implementation that can operate to 0.5 meters depth in Martian regolith.