MSL Mars Rover Cryogenic Load Cell

FUTEK was commissioned by NASA to develop a cryogenic donut load cell directly operating within Curiosity’s drilling arm. This sensor stands responsible to monitor the drill bit’s forces as it pierces into the Martian terrain.

• • IMany applications require customized solutions. Thus, FUTEK knows that when NASA approaches us, a standard off-the-shelf product won't fully fit their bill of requirements. But being that we are in the business of providing solutions, if there's a will there's a way for FUTEK to design and develop the necessary sensor needed for the job. And that's exactly what we did.
• • For the MSL Mars Rover Curiosity mission, FUTEK was commissioned by NASA JPL to develop a space/flight qualified cryogenic dual-bridge Thru-Hole Load Cell. This specific sensor sits within the drilling mechanism on the rover. It is responsible to measure the forces of the drill bit at a high level of accuracy and resolution that a current controlled motor drive system cannot achieve. The inclusion of a dual-bridge was a necessity to allow redundancy in the system, which reduces risk of the system becoming inoperable in the extreme conditions.
• • If you have a custom application in need of a sensor solution, please visit our Custom Sensor Solution Page to learn more about FUTEK’s capabilities.