Audi 2010 Annual Report Download - page 45

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was familiar with the response, was familiar with the response,
he stepped on the gas and attempted he stepped on the gas and attempted
to “drive as fast as possible.”to “drive as fast as possible.”
You could compare the lunar surface You could compare the lunar surface
with the deserts in California. “It is with the deserts in California. “It is
extremely uneven and covered with fi ne, extremely uneven and covered with fi ne,
slippery dust,” explains Scott. “I tried slippery dust,” explains Scott. “I tried
to negotiate the constantly changing to negotiate the constantly changing
formations as well as I could.”formations as well as I could.”
Still today, Scott is extremely Still today, Scott is extremely
impressed by the engineering feat: impressed by the engineering feat:
“The LRV was a superb vehicle with an “The LRV was a superb vehicle with an
excellent design.” He can’t tip his hat excellent design.” He can’t tip his hat
enough to the people who designed enough to the people who designed
and built it. He also considers every and built it. He also considers every
penny of the astronomical price penny of the astronomical price
well spent: “Measured against the well spent: “Measured against the
benefi ts, the LRV was pretty cheap.” benefi ts, the LRV was pretty cheap.”
In terms of mechanics, the lunar rover In terms of mechanics, the lunar rover
was far ahead of its time: battery-was far ahead of its time: battery-
powered wheel hub motors attached powered wheel hub motors attached
via a harmonic drive reduction unit, via a harmonic drive reduction unit,
independent wheel suspension on independent wheel suspension on
torsion springs and fl uid-free fi nned torsion springs and fl uid-free fi nned
radiators. The wheels were made of radiators. The wheels were made of
spun aluminum wire and covered with spun aluminum wire and covered with
titanium chevrons.titanium chevrons.
The maneuverability was just as The maneuverability was just as
impressive: step climbing capability impressive: step climbing capability
25 centimeters, crevasse crossing 25 centimeters, crevasse crossing
50 centimeters, 25-degree gradability, 50 centimeters, 25-degree gradability,
80-degree overhang angle (front and 80-degree overhang angle (front and
rear), 35-centimeter ground clearance, rear), 35-centimeter ground clearance,
rollover-resistant to 45 degrees on all rollover-resistant to 45 degrees on all
sides. But the top speed was nothing sides. But the top speed was nothing
to write home about: The relatively to write home about: The relatively
light vehicle, weighing 210 kilograms, light vehicle, weighing 210 kilograms,
achieved only 14 kilometers per achieved only 14 kilometers per
hour. Fast enough for Scott. If you hour. Fast enough for Scott. If you
go too fast, you can’t tell where the go too fast, you can’t tell where the
bumps are. The LRV bounces over bumps are. The LRV bounces over
scattered boulders; each crater is a scattered boulders; each crater is a
surprise. “I was really impressed by the surprise. “I was really impressed by the
performance,” says Scott, who sat performance,” says Scott, who sat
in the lunar rover back then with the in the lunar rover back then with the
pilot of the Lunar Module, James pilot of the Lunar Module, James
Benson Irwin. He tells of a hill they Benson Irwin. He tells of a hill they
drove to the top of: “It had about a drove to the top of: “It had about a
13 percent grade.” The surface was like 13 percent grade.” The surface was like
powder snow. On that terrain, you could powder snow. On that terrain, you could
hardly walk a single step. “It wasn’t hardly walk a single step. “It wasn’t
until we got out at the top and looked until we got out at the top and looked
around that we realized how high up we around that we realized how high up we
were,” Scott recalls today.were,” Scott recalls today.
The Apollo astronauts
had a continuous view of
their home planet some
400,000 kilometers away.