Dust removal on solar panels of exploration rovers using Chladni patterns

Abstract The buildup of dust on solar panels has significantly reduced the operational lifespan and mission performance of exploration rovers, and traditional dust removal techniques have proven inadequate for the Martian environment. The present study proposes a novel method for removing dust from...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hyunsung Cho, Jungyu Woo, Junyeong Park, Jinung Lee, Seongpil Cho
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86363-7
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract The buildup of dust on solar panels has significantly reduced the operational lifespan and mission performance of exploration rovers, and traditional dust removal techniques have proven inadequate for the Martian environment. The present study proposes a novel method for removing dust from the solar panels of Mars exploration rovers using Chladni patterns, addressing the persistent issue of efficiency loss due to Martian dust accumulation. To overcome these challenges, the proposed method leveraged Chladni patterns, generated by specific frequencies, to effectively clear dust from the panels. We conducted experiments that identified optimal frequencies, frequency sequences, and plate shapes for dust removal, demonstrating the method’s effectiveness. In conclusion, our approach not only enhances the efficiency of solar panels but also has the potential to improve the overall performance and longevity of Mars exploration missions.
ISSN:2045-2322