NASA Contest: 3D CAD Models of Different Radiation Shielding Concepts

Status: Closed
Prize: $1000
Entries Received: 13
Winner: lahiruCAD

Winner

Contest Brief

We need your 3D CAD models and animations for ONE of three different radiation shielding concepts for a Mars spacecraft.

Pick your favorite of the three design concepts (see attachments) and submit your high quality CAD model and animation of your selected design.

In a previous challenge, we asked for novel folding/origami-based concepts for packaging and deploying a large radiation shield around a Mars vehicle in cis-Lunar space. From that challenge, we had three top selections. Each selection had positive benefits and areas for improvement and we are looking for ideas on how to enhance those benefits and make improvements where needed.

From this challenge, we are looking for high fidelity 3D CAD models of the stowed and deployed configurations of the shielding concepts, as well as high fidelity animations of how the shield is deployed. The CAD models will be implemented in our 3D radiation transport simulations to understand the total radiation reduction to astronauts from these configurations. The animations will support engineering design and feasibility studies.

All final CAD model submissions must follow these requirements:
- Format: .prt (SolidWorks or ProE) or .step/.stp (Step file)
- Correct material types must be associated with each object in the CAD file
- If there are any hollow objects, they must be modeled as a hollow object with the appropriate thickness. Do not just define the envelope of an object.
- Enhance benefits of the design and upgrade areas of the design that need improvement

All final animation submissions must follow these requirements:
- The animation shall at a minimum
1. start with the shield in the stowed configuration docked to the Mars transit vehicle
2. show how the shield is robotically deployed – include enough fidelity in the animation to understand any mechanisms that are used as part of the deployment
3. show how the shield is attached to the Mars transit vehicle, given the standoff constraints
4. end with the shield in the fully deployed configuration
- Enhance benefits of the design and upgrade areas of the design that need improvement

Submissions will be evaluated based on the improvements made to the concepts, and the quality and fidelity (detail) of the models and animations produced. Freelancer submissions will need to be image files of your model and animations. Entries should be in JPEG, GIF or PNG formats with an aspect ratio of 6:4 for easier viewing. Animated gifs are not supported. There is also a maximum file size limit of 250 MB. Please provide enough images to allow adequate evaluation.

Evaluation criteria:
1. Does your submission have a CAD model and animation of one of the three concepts in the attachments
2. Does your CAD model and animation accurately represent one of the three concepts
3. Is your CAD model and animation of high quality and fidelity (detailed)
4. Does your model and animation improve upon the concept you selected

This challenge will award at least one winner with an award of $1000. For the winning submission, the minimum has to include a CAD model and animation for one concept. Users can provide additional concepts, if they’d like, but at minimum it should be one concept/submission. Multiple submissions may be selected for prize amounts between $100-$500 depending on the submission evaluation.

IMPORTANT: See the attached files for the winning shield concepts with NASA feedback and a reference to the initial challenge details.

Please note that NASA employees/contractors are not eligible for competing in this contest.

If you are interested in staying informed about other NASA challenge you can sign up for updates about NASA crowdsourcing and challenge at https://lists.hq.nasa.gov/mailman/listinfo/nasa-solve or check out the NASA Solve Website at https://www.nasa.gov/solve/.

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Employer Feedback

“Lahiru D. was very professional and gave us the agreed upon work in a timely manner. He was responsive and especially patient in uploading the files for us a few times due to technical difficulties on our side. Thank you for your hard work on this!”

nasacoeci, United States.

Public Clarification Board

lahiruCAD
- 6 years ago
Thank you Nicolaas S.
- 6 years ago
Kragman3000
- 6 years ago
Congratulations Lahiru D!
- 6 years ago
e3DItems
- 6 years ago
At the assignment, will you post the result? It might be interesting to understand the optimal solution. Thanx. Morgan.
- 6 years ago
Moisyes
- 6 years ago
I am going well with the concept, but the computer slows a lot with the complexity of the model. I am afraid it will be not enough time to complete. Would Freelancer / NASA be able to give us some one o two days more?
- 6 years ago
milivoja
- 6 years ago
Can me provide in entry our idea of folding because the last contest gave, i didn't have enough time to finish it.
- 6 years ago
1. Contest Holder
  - 6 years ago
  Please review the contest details. In this contest we are asking you to select one of the three existing concepts.
  - 6 years ago
pankajp12345
- 6 years ago
#extended !?
- 6 years ago
1. pankajp12345
  - 6 years ago
  thank you !
  - 6 years ago
POPOS2017
- 6 years ago
does the shield has electrical powered motors to move the joints !?
- 6 years ago
1. Contest Holder
  - 6 years ago
  Each concept is different and if it's not specified in the concept, then it's up to you to design the details of the joints. You are also able to improve upon the joints if you have a different idea that might work better.
  - 6 years ago
DISENIOSAVE
- 6 years ago
What is the final delivery date of the project?
- 6 years ago
1. Contest Holder
  - 6 years ago
  There is approximately 4 days and 7 hours left in the contest.
  - 6 years ago
lahiruCAD
- 6 years ago
Please see the entry 3. I am working with animation. Your comments will help me for improvements please.
- 6 years ago
Einffall
- 6 years ago
Just a thought...,is it possible to replace some layers of radiation shield material , filled with lithium hydride, with some layers containing frozen water (which is less dense than lithium hydride and a good radiation shield), maybe in an alternating fashion? I mean some layers of radiation shield material will be glued to frozen water layers and made a pattern that can be repeated. According to my calculations, if replaced with water, at just 1 layer of 16 x 12 x 0.02 m3 the gaining in weight is approximately 1 ton. It will increase the thickness of the shield but I’m not sure that will be as efficient in protection against radiation as the shield made completely from radiation shield material. Thank you!
- 6 years ago
1. Contest Holder
  - 6 years ago
  While that is an interesting thought, for this challenge, we'd like to focus on the lithium hydride material. Thanks for the idea!
  - 6 years ago
POPOS2017
- 6 years ago
hey guys are the frontal and the backward caps locked in position or movable ?!
- 6 years ago
1. Contest Holder
  - 6 years ago
  They should be movable in all 3 concepts.
  - 6 years ago
e3DItems
- 6 years ago
Hi, I need to know the mass weight of honeycomb radiation shield material (kg/mc, kg/mq, etc..). I only know it's 1,27 cm thick... About payload mass constraint (130 tons) please I need to know. many thanx. Morgan.
- 6 years ago
1. Contest Holder
  - 6 years ago
  Please make sure and read the challenge description carefully. Your model needs to be based on one of the existing design concepts in the attachments.
  - 6 years ago
2. e3DItems
  - 6 years ago
  ok I will do my best with existing information. Many thanx. Morgan
  - 6 years ago
saifelsedawy
- 6 years ago
Please, rank my entry with a comment at least so I can develop it.
- 6 years ago
1. Contest Holder
  - 6 years ago
  Please make sure and read the challenge description carefully. Your model needs to be based on one of the existing design concepts in the attachments.
  - 6 years ago
2. saifelsedawy
  - 6 years ago
  okay, if it is not good, assume that the polygon has 4 edges like concept 3. and check the last arrangement to be able to manufacture it. Additionally, I think the problem shouldn't be with which concept I had developed but the idea is good or not. I need a specific comment related to my entry to develop it.
  thank you in advance.
  - 6 years ago