Audi joined the team of engineers “Part-Time Scientists” and created the Audi Lunar quattro. This space Audi is due to land on the moon in 2017 as part of the Google Lunar XPRIZE project.
What is Google Lunar XPRIZE?
Google Lunar XPRIZE aims to make access to the Moon and space possible for space entrepreneurs. Privately funded engineers and scientists are racing against time to win a prize that could reach $30 million.The rules are simple: the vehicle must land on the moon, travel 500 meters, transmit images and video in high definition of that trip and carry a load provided by the organization that will be equivalent to 1% of the vehicle's weight, and will not weigh more than 500 grams not less than 100 grams. The first team to complete this challenge receives 20 million dollars and the second team 5 million, but there is more.
In addition to this initial challenge, there are other objectives that can be completed that add bonuses to the overall prize. One of them, the Apollo Heritage Bonus Prize, challenges the team to visit the Apollo 11,12,14,15,16 landing site and fulfill a series of tasks there, if they complete they receive an additional 4 million dollars. Surviving a night on the moon, proving that there is water on this natural satellite, or carrying more charge earns you more rewards. Teams will only receive any of these awards if they can prove that 90% of the funds spent were delivered by private individuals.
The Audi Lunar Quattro
The Part-Time Scientists team is the youngest ever to compete on the Google Lunar XPRIZE and has received support from Audi. The end result of this partnership is the Audi Lunar quattro.
Since the competition started, Part-Time Scientists has received US$750 thousand in prizes: the prize for the best mobility project (500 thousand euros) and the best image design (250 thousand euros).
The Audi Lunar quattro is built primarily from aluminum and is powered by a lithium battery that is linked to a steerable solar panel. The Audi Lunar quattro also has four electric motors that will allow it to reach 3.6 km/h of top speed. The vehicle is also equipped with two periscopic cameras for video and image transmission, as well as a scientific camera that will allow analyzing the surface and collected materials.
