Yeti testing outside of Thayer

Yeti was designed by Dartmouth undergraduates through a Jet Propulsion Lab “Future Rocket Scientists” program. It employs rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that allow for 4 to 5 hours of continuous operation, translating to approximately 15 to 20 km of travel and data gathering. It weighs approximately 77 kg and has an independent actuator for each wheel. It is designed with a central pivot in its chassis that allows for all four wheels to be in contact with the snow surface, even when moving over rough terrain. In typical operation, the ground penetrating radar antenna and receiver are towed behind the robot in a sled, allowing for larger instruments and a variety of sensors to be used with no design changes necessary for the robot. The robot is guided by waypoints using onboard GPS receivers for autonomous navigation.