Re: Mars Rover Windshield Wiper

John Crichton wrote:
the temperature on Mars can be as low as -220ºF. The differing thermal expansion coefficients of the component parts will cause mechanical stresses to set up which will cause breakage of the connections (solder joints, electric welds, etc.) which will render the electronics useless.


OK, this is a show stopper. Is there research being conducted in developping electronic components that can , when put together, widthstand the shrinkage at those winter temperatures ?

has anyone ever tried to cool an inactive circuit board to test actual temperature at which failures begin due to shrinkage ?

Most COTS computers have some environmental limits during transport, but I have to assume that they just put their units in a freezer and tested that the unit would still function when warmed up and powered back on at that freezer's lowest setting (usually between -20 and -40C). It doesn't mean that it will fail the second you drop one degree below that, it could very well end up failing at much lower temperatures.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Designing a PWM DC motor controller for under a car hood...
    ... temperatures under the hood vary quite a bit, ... and operating condition. ... and worst case for electronics is ... Brush-type motors generate lots of conducted EMI. ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: G5 - Proper Temperatures?
    ... It would be nice to hear from others who use the same tool what temperatures ... > Every once in a while in my office I get a funny smell that reminds me ... > electronics." ... > saw that the temperature on my Memory Controlller Heatsink was about ...
    (comp.sys.mac.system)
  • Re: Why not on the moon?
    ... >> of no sunlight and very low temperatures. ... Keep in the shade during the lunar day and it ... a lot of ordinary electronics ...
    (rec.radio.amateur.space)
  • Re: Sub zero temps
    ... I'm talking of temperatures that go down to 28 degrees below ... have mechanical propblems due to the effects of metal contracting when cold. ... All electronics have operating and non-operating temperatre ranges. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Mars Rover Windshield Wiper
    ... joints, electric welds, etc.) which will render the electronics useless. ... widthstand the shrinkage at those winter temperatures? ... temperature at which failures begin due to shrinkage? ... materials used and their exact configuration. ...
    (sci.space.shuttle)