Sample Processing, Manipulation & Containment
Sample Handling Systems
Product Features
Honeybee has developed a number of sample handling systems designed to transfer, store, and retrieve collected samples for analysis by scientific instruments. They include stand-alone systems, the Mechanized Sample Handling (MeSH) system, as well as the Sample Manipulation System pictured here and described below.
Some of our drill systems, including the SATM drill, the Mini-Corer, the MARTE drill, and the Corer/Abrader Tool (CAT), all have sample handling capabilities.
Sample Manipulation System (SMS)
Honeybee Robotics’ expertise in controlled, reliable, sample manipulation for planetary science will once again be demonstrated on JPL’s Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover due to launch in 2009.
The Sample Manipulation System (SMS) is a subsystem of the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Suite Investigation. The goal of the SAM instrument is to assess the habitability of Mars and ultimately search for past and present life on Mars.
The SMS plays an integral role in the path of a sample from the Martian surface to the analytical instruments within SAM. The two-axis system provides 74 cells for accepting, storing, and delivering the samples in a safe, reliable manner to the science suite. The SMS is capable of hermetically sealing a sample cell in a pyrolysis oven where the sample is heated to 1100°C. It can handle particle sizes up to 1 centimeter in diameter, delivered in 0.05 cubic centimeter aliquots. A single sample cup can hold up to 10 aliquots and be re-used for as many as 5 unique experiments.
The SMS also provides a vacuum seal to keep the sample cells protected from terrestrial contaminants during rover assembly, launch, cruise, and landing.
A high fidelity Brassboard has been built and functionally tested at Honeybee’s facility. The Engineering Model, destined for flight qualification, is currently in the procurement and fabrication phase.