Rover Antenna Mounts

I designed and manufactured a multi-antenna mounting system for the Mars Rover using SolidWorks and Fusion 360. The rover mount uses two telescopic selfie sticks with a three-piece 3D-printed assembly that fastens to the camera threads. The top piece uses press-fit tolerances to hold two antennas, while the center antenna attaches via its bolt pattern. Since the selfie sticks needed to be 70mm apart due to space constraints, I added a second mounting piece to accommodate the center antenna's bolt pattern, and a third piece sandwiches the tops together for stability. I also made 3D-printed clamps with heat-set inserts to attach the sticks to the chassis, and the whole thing is removable for transport. For the base station, I manufactured a modular system using 2020 aluminum extrusion with 3D-printed brackets for each antenna. The center antenna sits on a servo motor for better signal coverage. I also designed camera and electronics housings with ventilation holes and press-fit camera mounts. This project taught me a lot about tolerances, working within tight spaces, and designing parts that are manufacturable.