2011 NASA Great Moonbuggy Challenge

The Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Wyoming has designated our team to compete at the NASA sponsored Great Moonbuggy Race in Huntsville, Alabama. The purpose of the project was to design and fabricate a two-passenger, human-powered moonbuggy to traverse a lunar-like obstacle course. The moonbuggy must collapse to fit within a four foot cube to simulate payload transit. Design morphology was used to derive our concept of the moonbuggy then each component was justified with mathematical models and engineering testing. The design consists of a frame made of 4130 Chromoly steel tubing to ensure rigidity and minimal weight. The symmetric back-to-back seating configuration allows articulates in the center for steering. Each rider provides power to the moonbuggy through bicycle propulsion systems with planetary gears. The moonbuggy has been fabricated, meets design specifications and will be raced April 1st and 2nd, 2011.