Industrial & Mechatronics

XYLAN / TABIA

XYLAN is a Mars Exploration Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) developed under Mission TABIA at Cardiff Metropolitan University’s School of Art & Design. Designed for a target mission timeline of 2030, the project aims to pave the way for human arrival and base camp construction on Mars ahead of planned 2050 colonization efforts. Core Project Elements - XYLAN Rover (UGV): A heavy-duty planetary rover equipped with an advanced rocker-bogie suspension system for rough terrain, 3D smart mapping sensors, modular lightweight chassis components, and optimized energy management featuring deep-sleep mode and trickle charging. - MAZEN (AI Robodrone): An integrated, detachable AI-powered drone that serves as the rover's primary central processing controller and autonomous brain. - TABIA Ecosystem: Supported by TABIA Base Camp (a surface hub for automated charging, 3D printing, and maintenance) and ALAA Station (an orbital satellite system providing communications and wireless power relay).

UGVMarsMapping

Development Lifecycle The project follows a comprehensive 5-phase product design process (Study, Brief, Think, Make, Deliver): - Engineering & Analysis: Utilized Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Young’s Modulus material selection, and Von Mises Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to minimize structural stress. - Prototyping & Control: Developed a fully functional physical prototype using 3D printing (Ultimaker), custom laser-cut parts, and a dual microcontroller network powered by Raspberry Pi and ESP32 architecture.