Camera Pointing System (CPS) | Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office

Distinguished Project_Robotics for Space Exploration

Lunar Exploration Tool for Moon Surface Surveillance and Panoramas

Camera Pointing System

The Camera Pointing System (CPS) measures 85 cm height by 27 cm width by 16 cm depth and weighs 2.8 kg. Mounted on the upper part of the lander of Chang’e-3 and capable of moving vertically by 120 degree and rotating sideway by 350 degree, it is deployed for capturing panorama images of the moon landscape as well as movement of the rover. Upon the release of the rover, the CPS started working together with other parts of the lander for in-situ lunar exploration.

Photo of the rover captured by CPS

Panorama image of moon captured by CPS

Parts of CPS

Camera Pointing System

Special Features and Advantages

Integrated framework design with internal mechanisms to effectively raise the overall stiffness
Internal routing for safer cable management to avoid exposed cable damage
Compact structure with high strength, light-weight, low power consumption to enhance precise operation.
Multi angular surfaces for thermo control by simple rotation of the axes under the sun and allow vast temperature difference on the moon.

Applications

The CPS is deployed for capturing panorama images of the moon and monitoring the lunar rover’s movement in the second phase of China’s lunar exploration programme.

Principal Investigator

Prof. Kai-leung YUNG

Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

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