Energetic Efficiency Evaluation of the Lunar Roving Vehicles Using Computer Simulation

This paper studies the energetic performance of a Lunar Roving Vehicle using computer simulation with the AVL Cruise software. The simulation tasks include an energy consumption calculation over the determined extra vehicular activity and based on the simulation results, a comparative analysis is performed between the AVL Cruise simulation results and the NASA recordings of the energy balance resulting from computer simulations made in 1971, as well as the real results recorded by the crew of astronauts during the Apollo 15 mission. The purpose of this paper is to design a virtual Lunar Roving Vehicle and to simulate its operation in the lunar environment. The architecture of the Lunar Roving Vehicle will be based on the original NASA LRV design, but using current technology for the battery pack. Finally, the rovers will be simulated using the AVL Cruise software by implementing the digitized paths of the rovers during the Apollo 15 missions. The purpose of this simulation is to extract operating data of the old and the new rovers and compare their performances. This will allow us to highlight the technological advances made in the last 40 years and to have an idea of the new rover's capabilities should it be used during a future lunar mission.