SPLIT SENSOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT FOR COMMERCIALISATION

我们使用SPLIT（小型行星线性脉冲工具）的方法是采用一种专门为行星探索开发的仪器，并利用该研究资助的研究，通过商业开发提供经济回报。SPLIT是一个地质学家的锤子，因为环境太恶劣，或者在太空探索的情况下，在另一个星球上，地质学家不能被派往那里。从空间科学的角度来看，SPLIT使科学家能够像打开一本书一样打开岩石，阅读其地质秘密。对于一个天体生物学家来说，如果火星上曾经存在生命，那么SPLIT可能是找到证据的最佳机会。我们知道，生命在地球岩石内部的环境中寻求庇护，因此有理由期待火星上的生命也能这样做。SPLIT内部的压电传感器还可以让设备“感觉”到它可能被部署在其上的岩石，它施加的力与输出信号成正比，在这种情况下，输出信号是一个小电压。这种建议的SPLIT技术通过其工具尖端提供，用于通过剥落和分裂从更大的样品中机械去除岩石样品。它利用岩石中的风化线、劈理和其他自然弱点，以及使用尖端通过低周疲劳诱导脆性断裂。该工具的工作原理类似于自动中心冲床，其中一个机制提供了一个快速的力量，以工具提示。SPLIT是一种电机驱动的机械装置。当弹簧内的电机旋转时，它驱动凸轮绕其倾斜的螺旋凸轮的轮廓旋转，从而压缩弹簧。当凸轮到达凸轮上的轮廓下降时，存储在弹簧中的势能被快速释放，从而朝向机械解耦的工具尖端向前驱动质量。我们将压电传感器放置在这个冲击路径中，这样脉冲的特性（冲击随时间的变化）就可以通过传感器的信号输出进行映射。我们可以从SPLIT中开发两种技术：1）SPLIT作为极端环境（太空或陆地）中使用的岩土工程工具2）压电传感器用于测量岩石和其他材料的物理特性（本应用的重点）那么SPLIT的传感器端是如何工作的，它对工业有什么价值？SPLIT技术的一部分与工业上使用的一种称为施密特锤的设备没有什么不同。当施密特锤压在材料表面时，冲击机构用于向尖端传递脉冲，就像锤子撞击砧座一样。能量的一部分在表面处被吸收（在塑性变形中所做的功），并且剩余部分代表穿透阻力，其因此与表面的硬度相关。考虑一下橡胶球的类比;把它放在坚硬的表面上，球会反弹到特定的高度。把它从同一高度扔到一个较软的表面上，比如铺着地毯的地板上，球就不会弹得那么高。SPLIT中的传感器使我们能够测量反弹中损失的能量，从而测量硬度，或者更准确地说，表面的穿透阻力。与施密特锤子不同的是，SPLIT是一种动态测量，可以测量反弹的轮廓，类似于将尖锐的物体（如螺丝刀）推入不同材料的触感。此外，由于SPLIT尖端与岩石保持接触，压电传感器能够记录岩石振动时的弹性特性。作为一个类比，考虑不同的声音（振动）时，一个葡萄酒杯与不同数量的液体被点击。正是这些机械测量被提出作为对施密特锤或其他现有技术的增强，并且可以为工业和科学提供成本有效的能力。

Our approach with SPLIT, the Small Planetary Linear Impulse Tool, is to take a specialised instrument developed for planetary exploration and use that publically funded research to deliver an economic return through commercial exploitation. SPLIT is a geologist hammer where a field geologist cannot be sent, because the environment is too hostile, or in the case of space exploration, on another planet. From a space science point of view, SPLIT enables scientists to open a rock like a book and read its geological secrets. For an astro-biologist, if life ever existed on Mars, SPLIT probably represents the best chance of finding that evidence. We know that life seeks refuge from the environment inside rocks on Earth and so it is reasonable to expect that life could have done the same on Mars. A piezo sensor inside SPLIT also enables the device to "feel" the rock upon which it might be deployed, where the force it applies is directly proportional to an output signal, in this case, a small voltage.This proposed SPLIT technique is delivered by its tool tip for the mechanical removal of rock samples from a bigger specimen by spalling and splitting. It takes advantage of weathering lines, cleavages and other natural weaknesses in the rock, as well as using the tip to induce brittle fracture through low cycle fatigue. The tool works similarly to an automatic centre punch, where a mechanism delivers a rapid force to the tool tip. SPLIT is a motor driven mechanism. As the motor inside a spring rotates, it drives a cam wheel about the profile of its inclined helical cam, thus compressing the spring. The potential energy stored in the spring is released rapidly when the cam wheel reaches a profile drop on the cam, driving a mass forward towards the mechanically decoupled tool tip. It is in this impact path that we place the piezo sensor so that the characteristics of the impulse (impact over time) can be mapped by the signal output of the sensor.There are two technologies we can exploit from SPLIT:1) SPLIT as a geo-technics tool for use in extreme environments (space or terrestrial)2) Piezo sensors to measure physical properties of rock & other materials (focus of this application)So how does the sensor side of SPLIT work and how is it of value to industry?Part of the SPLIT technique is not dissimilar to a device used in industry called a Schmidt Hammer. As the Schmidt Hammer is pressed against the surface of a material an impact mechanism is used to deliver an impulse to the tip, just like a hammer striking an anvil. A component of the energy is absorbed at the surface (work done in plastic deformation) and the remaining portion represents the penetration resistance, which is thus related to hardness of the surface. Consider the rubber ball analogy; drop it on a hard surface and the ball will bounce to a particular height. Drop it from the same level on a softer surface, like a carpeted floor, and the ball will not bounce as high. The sensor in SPLIT enables us to measure the energy lost in the bounce and thereby measure the hardness, or more correctly, the resistance to penetration of the surface. Unlike the Schmidt Hammer, SPLIT is a dynamic measurement and can measure the profile of the bounce, similar to the tactile sensation of pushing a pointed object, like a screw driver, into different materials. Furthermore, because the SPLIT tip remains in contact with the rock the piezo sensor is able to record the elastic properties of the rock as it vibrates. As an analogy, consider the different sounds (vibrations) made when a wine glass with various amounts of liquid is tapped. It is these mechanical measurements that are proposed as an enhancement to the Schmidt Hammer, or other existing technology, and may offer a cost effective capability to industry and science alike.