I would like to build a Mars Rover for Mars... please help.......

[Smokey]

I would like to build a Mars Rover and actually send it to mars for a serious science experiment.  I'm just starting out and I'm a poor starving student so I would prefer not to buy one since $150million dollars is a lot of money(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Pathfinder).

I already have the Pow-Pow-Power Wheels Mini-Jeep I would like to use as the basis for the project.  My kids love this thing and it's really tough, so I'm thinking it will have no problems on Mars. 
https://www.amazon.com/Power-Wheels-Jeep-Wrangler-Red/dp/B00IVDVWV4

I was hoping someone could help me out with the other parts of the project...

Here are the things I haven't figured out how to do yet:
1) Anything associated with motors and making it drive - How many arduino pins do I need for this?
2) Navigation - Google maps should be good enough I think.  If not I have a spare Garmin.
2) Long range communications to mars -  I'm thinking bluetooth... maybe zigbee..
3) Sensors - I want a 47 axis IMU, lazer range finders, and probably like 10 cameras. 
4) Space rocket - Who is better for this?  Digikey or Mouser?
5) Space Trajectories - I played a TON of Asteroids back in the day, so I'm pretty sure I got this one.
6) Is there anything else I'm missing?  probably not.. but just asking..

I would like to have this project finished by the end of next week, so please hurry and help me. 

If anyone has any good books about building mars rovers to the above specifications that would be very helpful.  If all goes well I may send my pet hamster Sonny along for the ride.  Just think of the stories he will tell!  EPIC!

Love Smokey.....

[tpowell1830]

I heard Alliexpress was having a sale on #4.

[Smokey]

I heard Alliexpress was having a sale on #4.

WTH!  That's not helpful man!  Don't respond unless you post links.  I have a deadline to meet!

[Alex Eisenhut]

Best I can help you with is mailing a Mars bar to Mars.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars,_Pennsylvania

[Smokey]

Best I can help you with is mailing a Mars bar to Mars.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars,_Pennsylvania

No... Mars is a planet.. I've already spent like 3 hours doing research on this project so I know that much...

[DaJMasta]

The earth rotates really fast, so I think you don't need a space rocket at all if you make a giant sling, attach it to the ground, let it spin up, and then release one side.  You've just got to get the timing right, but the asteroids training should be good for that.

[Alex Eisenhut]

It's also the name for the month of March in french...

[Koen]

Very disrespectful answers so far. He has a clear idea and bullet points. We should welcome disruptive thinking.

Here's my two cents : you're starting it wrong, don't be too technical at the start. Try to make yourself heard and convince. Convince journalists, random people on facebook, get some buzz going to make people aware something huge is coming. First of all, invest in a nice video explaining your goals*. The more the better, just do it big. Promise plenty of stuff. Go for it ! Maybe aim for Trappist-1 instead ? It's hot right now.
Anyway, make a solid marketing plan and get some crowd funding going. Add a lot of news networks logos, planet pictures, stars and stuff. Limit the texts. It confuses people. I'll be the first to support you.

And don't listen to naysayers, you'll get them technical people on board later. Anything can be solved with like a month delay tops.

*: my little cousin does this, great rates for great ideas.

P.S: What are your credentials ? With such an important task, I think being an arts degree freshman would be a minimum.

[Smokey]

Very disrespectful answers so far. He has a clear idea and bullet points. We should welcome disruptive thinking.

Here's my two cents : you're starting it wrong, don't be too technical at the start. Try to make yourself heard and convince. Convince journalists, random people on facebook, get some buzz going to make people aware something huge is coming. First of all, invest in a nice video explaining your goals*. The more the better, just do it big. Promise plenty of stuff. Go for it ! Maybe aim for Trappist-1 instead ? It's hot right now.
Anyway, make a solid marketing plan and get some crowd funding going. Add a lot of news networks logos, planet pictures, stars and stuff. Limit the texts. It confuses people. I'll be the first to support you.

And don't listen to naysayers, you'll get them technical people on board later. Anything can be solved with like a month delay tops.

*: my little cousin does this, great rates for great ideas.

P.S: What are your credentials ? With such an important task, I think being an arts degree freshman would be a minimum.

Finally someone who understands what I'm trying to do here!  Thanks man!  Great Feedback!  I've never done any of those other things you suggest either though, but with the power of random people on an internet message board I'm sure I can get all that done without missing my Mars launch deadline... I'm so excited!

[xrunner]

A Mars rover for Mars?

Well, where else would a Mars rover go, other than Mars? 

[Koen]

I keep a list of the great ideas this forum has helped come to fruition, page after page after page after page after page after page. Feel inspired :

New Pick and Place design ideas.

Cheap recognition & pick & place & reflow oven solder machine for tiny PCBs.

Pick and Place machine brainstorm.

These very successful authors have bigger fishes to fry now that they are leading most-disruptive companies so they don't keep us up to date much. But don't let that fool you, success made them much more modest. Still, it's their lovely stories, scenic dreams of a better future for all the kids on this planet (and soon Mars thanks to you !!) and, foremost, complete disregard for technical aspects that gave their idea that small extra boost such great endeavours require. It's topics well worth reading. No one believed them. They were wrong.


Here's a perfect example of what naysayers will tell you :

I don't have the answers, just trying to save wasted time on hopeless approaches

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/pick-and-place-machine-brainstorm/msg1026307/#msg1026307

But don't let such things hurt you, guy could barely blink a led if he tried.

[tpowell1830]

Please get in touch with Marvin when you get there.

[Smokey]

I keep a list of the great ideas this forum has helped come to fruition, page after page after page after page after page after page. Feel inspired :

New Pick and Place design ideas.

Cheap recognition & pick & place & reflow oven solder machine for tiny PCBs.

Pick and Place machine brainstorm.

These very successful authors have bigger fishes to fry now that they are leading most-disruptive companies so they don't keep us up to date much. But don't let that fool you, success made them much more modest. Still, it's their lovely stories, scenic dreams of a better future for all the kids on this planet (and soon Mars thanks to you !!) and, foremost, complete disregard for technical aspects that gave their idea that small extra boost such great endeavours require. It's topics well worth reading. No one believed them. They were wrong.


Here's a perfect example of what naysayers will tell you :

I don't have the answers, just trying to save wasted time on hopeless approaches

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/pick-and-place-machine-brainstorm/msg1026307/#msg1026307

But don't let such things hurt you, guy could barely blink a led if he tried.

I feel really really honored to be named in the same breath of these great threads, but I don't know if it's deserved.   I'm just an average guy, who's SUPER excited about electronics, trying to land a Power Wheels on Mars.  I'm sure that's pretty standard stuff.

[beenosam]

I can recommend an OS for your Rover: DawnOS. Trust me, it can process all the scientific stuff with its revolutionary design.

[igendel]

I heard TI have a sale this week on some of their Launchpads, sounds like it could help with the rocket thing.

[MK14]

Buy a drone. Replace all 4 or 6 rotors with Rocket Motors. Put a mini-camera (or dashcam) on it for recording some pictures while it takes its long journey (use timelapse to save SD space, speed up as it lands). Fit a tiny parachute for the landing and an Arduino to activate it at the right time, before landing.
Spray with conformal coating to ensure it can survive the rigors of outer space travel.
If your bad at writing software, obtain the original moon landing software (its open sourced now, I believe), and run it on the Arduino. Remember to change the final destination coordinates, from the moon to where Mars will be when it gets there.
Don't forget to put 4 or 6 small servo motor wheel assemblies underneath it (or better still a pair of tank tracks).

EDIT:
Political reference DELETED, to avoid possibility of causing offense.

[Smokey]

I can recommend an OS for your Rover: DawnOS. Trust me, it can process all the scientific stuff with its revolutionary design.

Listen ... How am I supposed to know what this "DawnOS" thing is from your post.. This was not helpful! 

[Smokey]

I heard TI have a sale this week on some of their Launchpads, sounds like it could help with the rocket thing.

TI the rapper?  What does he have to do with my Mars rover project?  If you aren't going to post anything helpful, then why post here at all? Geeeeze!!!

[JoeO]

I don't know what your budget is but you should probably do a Kickstarter for this project.

I will kick in the first dollar!

[JoeO]

One way is to send a Tweat to Trump, which says "I am NASA, we need to send a Mars Rover to MARS, Please approve $10 Billion for it, else Obama would be a better president".
That should work, he will probably believe anything.

[alsetalokin4017]

There are already several rovers wandering around on Mars. You don't want to create a traffic jam, so why not try for Venus instead? It's closer, and has much less traffic.

[LaserSteve]

You need to build  an UPGOER FIVE...  Here are the plans...


https://xkcd.com/1133/

I'd  strongly suggest adding a Neptunium or Californium based impulse engine to aid in lateral maneuvering, Nasa has found out the hard way that the Martian Air Defense Corps is very, very,  good, except when they rarely get distracted by watching Alien porn videos on Marstube.. That and a retro technology video on their History Channel called EEV BLOG... You take a left turn (literally, I've been there) in Downtown Albuquerque. Go down the highway till you find a place with six concentric fences and a lot of guys out walking their dogs.  Ask at the gate for some free Californium...

What is it these days on lander shootdown scores , like Mars Six, Nasa One??? There is a Worldwide conspiracy to hide these shoot downs as "Technical Failures" or "Human Errors".

Also I hope you know the difference between Imperial Measurements for Imperial Landers, and the Metric System.. One of the last teams forgot that skill, and didn't multiply by 25.4 or something...

PS, Name it Darth Dave..


Steve

[xrunner]

There are already several rovers wandering around on Mars. You don't want to create a traffic jam, so why not try for Venus instead? It's closer, and has much less traffic.

Yea but make sure the one going to Venus is called "Venus Rover" not "Mars Rover", else bad things will happen.

[albert22]

You need to watch this movie
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Astronaut_Farmer
It shows everything you need to know about getting to outer space and rockets.

[bobaruni]

4) Space rocket - Who is better for this?  Digikey or Mouser?

You could use a magnetron out of a microwave oven for thrust and you will have an "EM Drive".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RF_resonant_cavity_thruster

[Hideki]

That's a great suggestion. Since it can (theoretically) put a man on mars in 70 days, maybe you can do it even faster when it's only a rover.

http://www.techtimes.com/articles/176203/20160903/emdrive-engine-can-theoretically-bring-us-to-mars-in-70-days-whats-next-after-peer-review.htm

[JimRemington]

Rockets are pretty much out, because they are big, expensive and tend to blow up.

I would go with an antigravity drive, which usually involves some weird arrangement of spinning magnets (check Youtube for details). An added benefit is that the spinning magnet drive can run an Over Unity generator (Youtube again), to power lights, the TI Launchpad computer, microSD card data storage, camera and motors on the rover.

I agree with the others about Kickstarter or Indiegogo; they are an outstanding source of basically free money, as long as you post catchy wording and pictures of good looking young men and women posing around your rover.

[rollatorwieltje]

Before you do anything, first start a crowd funding campaign on IGG. At least ask for several million dollars. Having a large sum of money helps the creative process.

[Nusa]

There's a lot of paperwork involved in getting your rocket launch site and/or spaceport legal. I suggest starting on that now.

[ohdsp]

If you want a vaguely serious reply to this thread it is very very very complex.

Examples:
Radiation issues can cause all sorts of memory errors and failures and assuming you want the rover to last more than a few seconds need serious consideration. Professional projects will conduct reports on this issue alone considering the maximum amount of radiation specified for each component and the levels of radiation you will receive during flight and on the surface landing location. You will not get these specifications on any sort of commercial parts; all parts will need to be aerospace grade parts. A mobile phone may last a few minutes when flown to orbit around earth, but Mars is completely different.

Extreme temperature cycling on the surface (say -200C to +20C) will be your biggest problem. The temperature cycling alone is enough to cause the material expansion rates of the PCB and ICs to be different enough the ICs will literally crack all their solder joints and stop working (and fall off if not glued?). Unless you are using some advanced PCB materials (Teflon?) and ceramic package ICs where the IC would stick to the pcb and solder via long bent legs to allow for this expansion change you have little chance of any electronics working at all. Also remember that any type of normal glues you use will probably fail when on Mars.

Whilst I am no expert at all, I can tell you that the actual circuit design is simple, very simple in fact. Parts used are typically 20 to 30+ year old components which if you bought as commercial parts would cost you a few pence each these days. Memories/FPGA/ICs etc are all low density parts and "generic" logic chips. Using these on Mars would just never work, and so you have to pay a lot for the aerospace qualified and packaged parts if you want any hope in hell of it ever working!

Actually making it last more then a few minutes on the Martian surface is years worth of work and testing in chambers than can simulate the surface temperatures of mars on earth before flight.

Plastics don't work on Mars either....

[Koen]

Plastics don't work on Mars either....

Wow, what a major blow for the project ! As I understood it, Smokey already bought and paid his All-Terrain Power Wheels Jeep Wrangler and this will leave a major hole in the budget. I fully expect a six paragraphs letter of explanation to supporters any day now, including a word from his legal counsel threatening action against the local toy shop misleading advertisement. We'll see.

[Audioguru]

Sorry my reply is a little late. For propulsion use baking soda in vinegar.

[Smokey]

....Whilst I am no expert at all...

....Plastics don't work on Mars either....

Please don't comment here unless you are an expert.  I don't have time to validate every crazy thing everyone says.   I have a Mars rover to build here!  Respect my project!  Please Help!
The PowPowPowerWheels Jeep is a serious off road machine.  I've seen in climb some pretty steep hills.  It will be fine!

[kushagrad28]

I think you will need some Plutonium-238 or you can use AAA batteries.

[Nerull]

There's a lot of paperwork involved in getting your rocket launch site and/or spaceport legal. I suggest starting on that now.

I (seriously) saw a guy on reddit, and a regular in r/space, claim he was part of a team building a rocket to reach 100km (Which has been done by amateurs before, so it's possible) and rather than deal with getting FAA clearance to launch they were just going to do it anonymously and hope no one found out.

That seems like a perfectly reasonable plan, so you shouldn't need to worry about legality.

[SeanB]

Just launch in Mexico, no need for any clearance then, providing you are more than 100km from the US border.  Just keep $1000 in small unmarked bills handy for "cooldrink" if anybody asks.

[MarvinTheMartian]

 

DON'T DO IT EARTHLINGS!

I don't need any more of your Earth rubbish up here thanks!

You have already lobbed a number of pieces of junk my way - and I have to avoid those stupid Rovers so you guys don't realise I'm here.  NO MORE!

And no pesky wabbits either!

Don't forget I have the Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator (now working perfectly!) and I'm not afraid to use it. 

MarvinTheMartian

    

[The Soulman]

Also might want to make your wiring rodent proof:



http://www.ufosightingsdaily.com/2012/12/nasa-almost-makes-historical.html

[Circlotron]

Make sure all your system components are prefixed by a lower case "i"
e.g.
iRocket
iRover
iMovie Camera
iAlien Zapper

And mix in the word Blue here and there:
Blue Loud Thing
Blue Expensive Stuff
Blue Energy Drive

and make sure the rover has it's own social media page.

[Smokey]

Make sure all your system components are prefixed by a lower case "i"
e.g.
iRocket
iRover
iMovie Camera
iAlien Zapper

And mix in the word Blue here and there:
Blue Loud Thing
Blue Expensive Stuff
Blue Energy Drive

and make sure the rover has it's own social media page.

..  I just don't know what to think, clearly you are trying to be helpful in some way.  I just can't imagine what it is?   

[Koen]

I think I got it. He means reliability is important and as such, your code should be very clear. You should use this very common scheme where variable names are very expressive, like this :

Code: [Select]

int rover_RearLeftWheelStatus_IsTurningWhenTrue_typeBinaryBoolean = 0;This reduces risks of errors caused by radiations in space because if in doubt, the code can read the variable name and deduce proper purpose and procedure. That's why Apollo code was printed on A3 instead of A4, very long variable names were too large for A4.

[Smokey]

I think I got it. He means reliability is important and as such, your code should be very clear. You should use this very common scheme where variable names are very expressive, like this :

Code: [Select]

int rover_RearLeftWheelStatus_IsTurningWhenTrue_typeBinaryBoolean = 0;This reduces risks of errors caused by radiations in space because if in doubt, the code can read the variable name and deduce proper purpose and procedure. That's why Apollo code was printed on A3 instead of A4, very long variable names were too large for A4.

Thank you Koen.  This is super helpful.  Now please post the rest of the code for the project so I can test it.

[Koen]

I see from the flag you are from Liberia, our local branch will contact you soon with an offer.

[Electro707]

I think he meant Texas Instruments, the semiconductor company.

[igendel]

Hey Smokey, I see that you are serious about your project, so here are a couple of practical pro tips about programming your Arduino for Mars.

1) As you probably already know from your research, the gravity on Mars is smaller than on earth. This means the rover will do a lot of bouncing around, and that's bad; you're going to have to debounce it. Now, normal debouncing on earth-bound Arduinos is done by adding a short delay (10 milliseconds) after reading the input from a switch. But that's just for one little switch, while you have a whole rover to debounce. So your delay should be much longer, say 1000 milliseconds. Be sure to put it after each and every command. Here's the proper way to do it:

Code: [Select]

#define DEFINE_ONE_THOUSAND unsigned int oneThousand = 1000

DEFINE_ONE_THOUSAND;

void setup() {

  // Safety check for space radiation induced errors!
  if (oneThousand != 1000) {
    oneThousand = 1000;
  }

}

void loop() {
 
  // first command
  // ...
  delay(oneThousand);

  // second command
  // ...
  delay(oneThousand);

 
}
2) In certain Arduino libraries, you'll find variables declared as volatile. This is dangerous: Mars' atmosphere is a lot thinner than ours, and anything volatile will therefore evaporate there much faster. Be sure to remove any "volatile" declaration from the code before you compile it!

I think he meant Texas Instruments, the semiconductor company.

Yes, on that note I'll repeat my recommendation of Texas Instruments' Launchpads. These boards are red, which is less offensive to Martians than the blue Arduino.

[JoeO]

Don't use the MKS system of measurement.  The only country to put a man on the moon used the English system.

[dimkasta]

Also, make sure that you watch "The martian". Much good science in there too.

Especially at the end, it has brilliant ideas on cutting the costs on the rocket. All you need practically is a chair strapped on the top of a rocket and a tent to keep your eyes from watering from the draft. No fancy stuff. Actually forget the chair/tent too. This is an unmanned mission. Although it would be cool to try the ironman flying thing. Could this work to help you escape the earth's gravity too?

[obiwanjacobi]

Yeah, thats all nice and stuff but where are you going to get the 1.21 GW you'll need...?
Well!?

[PCChazter]

You are looking for advice from experts, but it sounds like on the subject of Mars travel, you may be far superior in intellect. Nevertheless, I have a suggestion that will solve your travel and time restraints. What you need is one of these:

Did some research, you may be able to reverse engineer this one to be able to build a higher power one:
https://www.amazon.ca/Future-Capacitor-USB-Car-Charger/dp/B00O2KYGQI

You also need a DeLorean, which you will have to source out locally.

Once you have both of these components, there is a documentary on combining the two to create a time machine, it is called back to the future. Once you have your time machine, you can then use it to go to the future to create a flying machine. Although it almost looks like he just used four of these:


Walmart has these available in three colors depending on your style.

Once you have your time machine, you can also time travel to your deadline, and launch on schedule!

I hope this helps, I hope to see your launch on the TV soon!

Sent from my XT1563 using Tapatalk

[Smokey]

......You are looking for advice from experts, but it sounds like on the subject of Mars travel, you may be far superior in intellect. .......

I try... but I'm sure I'm just like every other guy actually trying to build a Mars rover who is just starting out and LOVES electronics.!!...

...Once you have your time machine, you can also time travel to your deadline, and launch on schedule!....

Come on now.  you are just trying to side track me.  Time machines are WAY out of the scope of this project.  That is so unrealistic to expect me to build a time machine.  I need to focus on my Mars Rover space travel logistics here!

[SL4P]

Power source: anything, complemented with a Batteriser
Funding: anything with the name Trump on it.
Propulsion: anything that comes out of the Rooparvars (also suitable for lubrication)

[CatalinaWOW]

Don't forget to set your GPS to an appropriate geodetic system.  They usually default to WGS84 which is the wrong planet.

[Smokey]

Don't forget to set your GPS to an appropriate geodetic system.  They usually default to WGS84 which is the wrong planet.

Good point.  What is the setting for Mars and how do I test that setting?  I already Googled and that didn't turn up anything...
Thanks! PLease Help!

[ohdsp]

I would really implore you to respect that plastics don't work at -200C

I mean it should be pretty obvious to anyone that most things become brittle at that temperature.

Have you at least considered some tyre warmers!?

[SL4P]

Should be no problem heat-sinking the power electronics.
Perhaps leaves room for a beer fridge?

[obiwanjacobi]

Oh, and be sure to align the use of metric or imperial systems in your code.
You don't want to have any mixup in that.

[2c]

[PointyOintment]

I'm surprised nobody has suggested using a Raspberry Pi yet. Everyone knows Raspberry Pi projects that use Raspberry Pi computers and Raspberry Pi accessories are the best because they're so raspberryful.

Once you have both of these components, there is a documentary on combining the two to create a time machine, it is called back to the future. Once you have your time machine, you can then use it to go to the future to create a flying machine. Although it almost looks like he just used four of these:

Actually, those fans are a vital part of the time machine. As you can learn here, taking two fans and placing them facing toward each other enables whatever's in the middle to travel through time. Evidently Doc Brown has a more advanced four-fan-and-flux-capacitor version, which probably gives better control and enables the use of such a large time machine.

[SL4P]

Oh, and be sure to align the use of metric or imperial systems in your code.
You don't want to have any mixup in that.

Now you've got me thinking...
Which way does Mars' Equator spin?
If the opposite of Earth, does that mean the CPU clocks would have to run at negative frequencies?

[MK14]

Now you've got me thinking...
Which way does Mars' Equator spin?
If the opposite of Earth, does that mean the CPU clocks would have to run at negative frequencies?

We are already running at negative frequencies, because the electron charge was incorrectly polarized a long time ago.
So what we call "Positive" is actually Negative.
Similarly what we call "Negative" is actually Positive.
Hence the negative frequencies.

This is why, despite massive increases in performance frequency, approximately doubling every two years (Moore's law), we actually see e.g. Windows10, with a 4 GHz 8 core processor, actually run a bit slower, than an ancient 4.77 MHz single core cpu (8088), running Dos and the same, simple application (e.g. a text editor).

tl;dr
So on Mars a Windows10 machine would actually run, about a million times faster, compared to Earth.

Anyone who does not believe me, will have to fly/travel over to Mars and perform experiments to disprove me, otherwise I am RIGHT, since I said it first**.

**There CAN'T be anything wrong with that argument, because a number of other internet forum posters (around the internet), use it. 

[vealmike]

I think a little out of the box thinking is needed here.

Avoid having to waste gannt chart time & development dollars on the rocket transportation system by simply assembling the rover from components available on the red planet. If you subcontract the assembly process, all you need to do is email the plans up there.

[bji900]

And I thought this was a legit thread... I actually would like to work on a project like this. I have spent quite a bit of time day dreaming of building Mars hardware and sending it.

[MK14]

And I thought this was a legit thread... I actually would like to work on a project like this. I have spent quite a bit of time day dreaming of building Mars hardware and sending it.

In that case, I've got a VERY rude, 4 letter word, to say to you.
(Email) NASA.
{Maybe get a job, there}
Or even SpaceX.

[ohdsp]

My previous post (reply 30) was a genuine response, mainly as I find this stuff quite fascinating. Most of the real issues of developing hardware for mars is in the temperature extremes. Developing this kind of thing without the right tools to test it is just not possible; it seems to come down to how long you can make it last rather than being something that will work forever.

[MK14]

My previous post (reply 30) was a genuine response, mainly as I find this stuff quite fascinating. Most of the real issues of developing hardware for mars is in the temperature extremes. Developing this kind of thing without the right tools to test it is just not possible; it seems to come down to how long you can make it last rather than being something that will work forever.

Even having the entire/maximum resources of an entire country, may not be enough to do a decent project to land on Mars.

e.g. North Koreas attempts to make an intercontinental ballistic missile system, to (supposedly) launch a nuclear device against its enemies (US).
Which fortunately, have been somewhat/partially unsuccessful.

If it was easy, then maybe they would have succeeded by now.

Similarly, that is why, it is usually said that the US Moon landings, were really to help them develop inter-ballistic Nuclear bomb defense systems and were hugely (or at least somewhat) based on the German V2 ballistic missiles, from world war 2.

[ohdsp]

Even having the entire/maximum resources of an entire country, may not be enough to do a decent project to land on Mars.

Most modern rover "projects", such as the ExoMars 2020 project, are actually a collection of many small projects spread across multiple countries and commercial/educational institutions; and then finally integrated together by a big company like AirBus. These institutions themselves are highly specialised in the aerospace industry. A country like North Korea presumably would not have either the know-how or the resources that even just one of these institutions would have; which mostly comes down to experience and a lot of research especially in an environment such as Mars.

[MK14]

Even having the entire/maximum resources of an entire country, may not be enough to do a decent project to land on Mars.

Most modern rover "projects", such as the ExoMars 2020 project, are actually a collection of many small projects spread across multiple countries and commercial/educational institutions; and then finally integrated together by a big company like AirBus. These institutions themselves are highly specialised in the aerospace industry. A country like North Korea presumably would not have either the know-how or the resources that even just one of these institutions would have; which mostly comes down to experience and a lot of research especially in an environment such as Mars.

In the same way, lone enthusiast can get some quite powerful, usable drones, for e.g. photographing/videoing, otherwise unreachable places, such as the tops of church towers.
Maybe one day, lone hobbyists, will be able to send things to fly to Mars (and probably other places).
But will it be 10 or 1,000 or 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 years ?

I've seen some documentaries about how they develop stuff for space missions. The technical details and problems/issues they can have are amazingly mindboggling, and defy most casual/untrained imaginings on the difficulties.

e.g. Making the small navigation computer for the 1969 moon landing, was an immense achievement in its own right, and needed a huge development program, to accomplish it. At the time, similar computers, took up huge cabinets, weighed way too much and used up too much electricity, for a relatively tiny moon capsule.

[Kjelt]

I heard Virgin is going to sent Mr Hawking into space.
Since that is a oneway trip anyway, convince them to sent him to Mars and you can use his wheelchair as the carriage, the processor power in that thing should be enough to do the rest of your experiments 

http://www.businessinsider.com/stephen-hawking-is-being-sent-to-space-on-richard-bransons-ship-2017-3?international=true&r=US&IR=T

[Smokey]

Anyone who does not believe me, will have to fly/travel over to Mars and perform experiments to disprove me, otherwise I am RIGHT, since I said it first**.

I like the way you think.  You are an honorary member of Team Mars Rover for Mars!!

[Smokey]

HEY!!!  LISTEN UP!!! THIS IS MY THREAD!!!!  KEEP IT ON TOPIC!! 

You guys discussing all the ways I can't succeeded in my dream of landing a Pow-Pow-PowerWheels on mars can go get your own thread.  I don't need a history lesson on NASA.. I need help now!!... PLEASE HELP!!

Love Smokey...

[MK14]

I would like to build a Mars Rover
1) Anything associated with motors and making it drive - How many arduino pins do I need for this?
2) Navigation - Google maps should be good enough I think.  If not I have a spare Garmin.
2) Long range communications to mars -  I'm thinking bluetooth... maybe zigbee..
3) Sensors - I want a 47 axis IMU, lazer range finders, and probably like 10 cameras. 
4) Space rocket - Who is better for this?  Digikey or Mouser?
5) Space Trajectories - I played a TON of Asteroids back in the day, so I'm pretty sure I got this one.
6) Is there anything else I'm missing?  probably not.. but just asking..
 I would like to have this project finished by the end of next week

(1)..I'd suggest using stepper motors, and around 150 Arduino pins should cope
(2)..Put an ultra high gain amp and ultra high gain (directional) antenna onto a top end GPS PCB, should do it
(2)..Firstly, learn how to count to 2 (see your original post), then worry about the harder problems
(3)..To save money put a few go-pro cameras, into high environmental protection (clear) cases, maybe good enough
(4)..Rather than Digikey or Mouser, I would suggest RS-elec (RS = Rocket Spares) or Ebay. China sells some huge/cheap rockets, usually in the fireworks section
(5)..Use one of the open sourced space flight programs, to calculate it. Remember to choose the landing time carefully...
(6)..Yes, after we make this a reality for you, by knocking you out, and you waking up, with your head strapped inside the latest VR-reality headset. As you wake up, please remember very carefully to NOT remove the virtual reality set, which is running the latest Space Flight Simulation game, on it. Otherwise you may fail to meet your tight timescales

[Richard Crowley]

I agree with @rollatorwieltje that you should simply cruise on over to https://www.indiegogo.com and start a campaign for $150M  You might even collect enough to build a suitable vehicle from the proper materials. 

And there are teams around the planet building small cube-satelites which can hitch a ride on a scheduled commercial launch. http://www.cubesat.org/  Of course you are unlikely to find anyone with a trajectory that reaches even the closest planet, so you will grow old standing at the launch pad with your thumb out.

[SL4P]

Despite being tongue-in-cheek, most of the posts are vaguely aligned with the OP.
I have one more related question.
How often do Martians have sex?

[Mr. Scram]

And there are teams around the planet building small cube-satelites which can hitch a ride on a scheduled commercial launch. http://www.cubesat.org/  Of course you are unlikely to find anyone with a trajectory that reaches even the closest planet, so you will grow old standing at the launch pad with your thumb out.

An automated thumb should not be undoable.

[Smokey]

And there are teams around the planet building small cube-satelites which can hitch a ride on a scheduled commercial launch. http://www.cubesat.org/  Of course you are unlikely to find anyone with a trajectory that reaches even the closest planet, so you will grow old standing at the launch pad with your thumb out.

An automated thumb should not be undoable.

Now that's some problem solving right there!  You're in!

[Smokey]

Despite being tongue-in-cheek, most of the posts are vaguely aligned with the OP.
I have one more related question.
How often do Martians have sex?

Well if Martian men are from Mars, and Martian Women are from Venus, then never unless those Martian men made Venus Rovers for Venus to go bring some Martian Women back from Venus.  Or something like that...

[CatalinaWOW]

While I have been poking fun at some of the concepts, the basic idea is not that impossible.  I have worked with folks who built one of the Mars rovers, and fundamentally it wasn't much different than a yard cruiser.  Built very, very carefully so that it could survive the rough ride on the way there, and because it is such a long way to the repair shop if something breaks.  There was a bit of the work that had to do with the Mars environment (picking batteries and other components that can survive low temp) and a LOT of testing to work out infant mortality and mistakes, but it is surprising how much works without modification.

Even things like the plastic body may not be a no go.  They only last a couple years here on Earth.  If it lasted 6 months on Mars it would fit nicely in the population of rovers built by large professional organizations.  UV on Mars will be a lot worse, but at least once it gets there the stresses will be a lot lower.  Only 1/3 g, and absolutely, positively no toddlers.

[Mr. Scram]

Even things like the plastic body may not be a no go.  They only last a couple years here on Earth.  If it lasted 6 months on Mars it would fit nicely in the population of rovers built by large professional organizations.  UV on Mars will be a lot worse, but at least once it gets there the stresses will be a lot lower.  Only 1/3 g, and absolutely, positively no toddlers.

A while back, an engineer working modules heading for space told me that most plastics are not allowed. They outgass and are therefore not stable enough to be considered reliable. During our conversation, I understood that this rule was not as hard in practice as it is on paper, but that was implied and certainly not commented on any further. Coincidentally, if I do a Google search on outgassing, the top results are material outgassing databases of both NASA and ESA. Both agencies have some pretty neat documentation online that relate to mechanical and electrical requirements for equipment.

That being said, I do love me some ceramic packages. The have a charm that epoxy just does not posses.

Oh, I forgot to make a snarky comment. Maybe you could zip-lock the rover to prevent chassis outgassing!

[CatalinaWOW]

Even things like the plastic body may not be a no go.  They only last a couple years here on Earth.  If it lasted 6 months on Mars it would fit nicely in the population of rovers built by large professional organizations.  UV on Mars will be a lot worse, but at least once it gets there the stresses will be a lot lower.  Only 1/3 g, and absolutely, positively no toddlers.

A while back, an engineer working modules heading for space told me that most plastics are not allowed. They outgass and are therefore not stable enough to be considered reliable. During our conversation, I understood that this rule was not as hard in practice as it is on paper, but that was implied and certainly not commented on any further. Coincidentally, if I do a Google search on outgassing, the top results are material outgassing databases of both NASA and ESA. Both agencies have some pretty neat documentation online that relate to mechanical and electrical requirements for equipment.

That being said, I do love me some ceramic packages. The have a charm that epoxy just does not posses.

Oh, I forgot to make a snarky comment. Maybe you could zip-lock the rover to prevent chassis outgassing!

Or you could ask why outgassing is a concern.  In many cases that I am aware of the outgassing is less of an issue to the component that is outgassing than it is to those where the expelled material is deposited.  In other cases it is related to the desire to have an operating life measured in decades.

[Smokey]

I only have 2 more days left for my deadline!  Doesn't anyone around here know how to make a Mars Rover for Mars?!?!?!???  I thought you guys were smart!!  Please Help!

[Mr. Scram]

I only have 2 more days left for my deadline!  Doesn't anyone around here know how to make a Mars Rover for Mars?!?!?!???  I thought you guys were smart!!  Please Help!

Have you called Elon?