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Updated: Apr 30, 2026

Experimental Methods of Dust Charging and Mobilization on Surfaces with Exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation or Plasmas
Published on: April 3, 2018
Dust removal on solar panels of exploration rovers using Chladni patterns
Hyunsung Cho1, Jungyu Woo1, Junyeong Park1
1School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Korea Aerospace University, Goyang, 10540, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
The buildup of dust on solar panels has significantly reduced the operational lifespan and mission performance of exploration rovers, and traditional dust removal techniques have proven inadequate for the Martian environment. The present study proposes a novel method for removing dust from the solar panels of Mars exploration rovers using Chladni patterns, addressing the persistent issue of efficiency loss due to Martian dust accumulation. To overcome these challenges, the proposed method leveraged Chladni patterns, generated by specific frequencies, to effectively clear dust from the panels. We conducted experiments that identified optimal frequencies, frequency sequences, and plate shapes for dust removal, demonstrating the method's effectiveness. In conclusion, our approach not only enhances the efficiency of solar panels but also has the potential to improve the overall performance and longevity of Mars exploration missions.

