Homeostasis or How to Stay Warm in Antarctica

Homeostasis is the property of a system in which variables are regulated so that internal conditions remain stable and relatively constant.

In Octanis 1, it is crucial to control energy consumption and storage accurately. The rover electronics should never be exposed to extreme temperatures. Depending on the component, the definition of “extreme” can be -10°C or -40°C. This wiki section shall describe how we manage this problem, how we store energy, how we consume and distribute energy. We especially focus on the battery, the solar panels and the thermostatically controlled heat pads.

Calculations on the physical dimensions of the insulating rover body

• Energy use in function of body dimensions and temperature difference
• Application of the above formula, with conclusion on to-be body dimensions