Product description: In some cases, such as the distributed control system for the actuators,the electronic assemblies that will have to be placed on or near the motors are outside of the central WEB. The COTS parts used
Commercial-off-the-she1 f electronic components (COTS) offer a very low cost and attractive solution for construction of electronic systems for Mars missions, including the actuator electronic systems for the Mars Rovers. One issue with using COTS lies in the difference between their specified operating temperature range (-55°C to 125°C for military components) and the temperatures observed at the surface of Mars (-120°C to 20°C). To compensate for the difference between these temperatures, most of the electronics are placed in a central WarmElectronics-Box or (WEB). In some cases, such as the distributed control system for the actuators,the electronic assemblies that will have to be placed on or near the motors are outside of the central WEB. The COTS parts used for the distributed control of actuators will have to be capable of operating at the very cold temperatures on Mars.