AUDI AG supports Part-Time Scientists at Google Lunar XPRIZE Mission to the Moon

Wonder is what makes us wander. We go places in search of new things, of new inventions and new sightings. The Google Lunar XPRIZE takes it to the extreme travelling and AUDI supports Part-Time Scientists to a new beginning.

Audi is taking off for the moon together with the Part Time Scientists, the only German team competing for the Google Lunar XPRIZE. Part Time Scientists is working within the competition to transport an unmanned rover onto the moon. The cooperating partners have selected the old landing site of Apollo 17 as the new target nearly 45 years after NASA’s Apollo 17 completed the last manned mission to the moon.

The US$30 million Google Lunar XPRIZE is a competition to challenge and inspire engineers and entrepreneurs from around the world to develop low cost methods of robotic space exploration. To win the Google Lunar XPRIZE, a privately funded team must successfully place a robot on the moon’s surface that explores at least 500 meters and transmits high definition video and images back to Earth. It started off with more than 25 teams and is now on its final round. Participants in the competition, in addition to Part Time Scientists, include 15 teams from around the world including Brazil, Canada, Chile, Hungary, Japan, Israel, Italy, Malaysia and the United States.

AUDI AG is incorporating its technological know-how into optimization of the rover of the Part Time Scientists. The research group’s lunar vehicle has already been recognized during the course of the competition by a jury of aerospace experts with two Milestone Prizes.

“The concept of a privately financed mission to the moon is fascinating and innovative ideas need supporters that promote them. We want to send a signal with our involvement with the Part Time Scientists and also motivate other partners to contribute their know how.” says Luca de Meo, Audi Board Member for Sales and Marketing. He is presenting the partnership today at the international innovation forum Cannes Innovation Days.

As a cooperating partner, Audi is primarily supporting the team with its expertise in lightweight construction and e mobility, with quattro permanent all-wheel drive and with piloted driving. Audi is also providing wide ranging assistance in testing, trials and quality assurance. Audi Concept Design Studio in Munich is revising the rover, which will be named the “Audi lunar quattro,” to ensure ideal lightweight construction conditions.

“We are pleased to support the project with our know how in lightweight technology, electronics and robotics”, says Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Audi Board Member for Technical Development.

The Audi Lunar Quattro

The lunar vehicle with the Audi lunar quattro should launch into space in 2017 on board a launching rocket and will travel more than 380,000 kilometers to the moon. The trip will take about five days. The target landing area is north of the moon’s equator and the temperature fluctuates here by up to 300 degrees Celsius.

The lunar vehicle is largely made of aluminum which is developed by the Part Time Scientists during various rounds of testing undertaken in locations such as the Austrian Alps and Tenerife. It has an adjustable solar panel captures sunlight and directs it to a lithium ion battery. It feeds four electric wheel hub motors. There’s a head at the front of the vehicle carries two stereoscopic cameras as well as a scientific camera that examines materials. The theoretical maximum speed is 3.6 km/h– but more important on the rugged surface of the moon are the vehicle’s off road capabilities and ability for safe orientation.

“With Audi we have acquired a strong partner that will bring us a big step forward with its technological and mobility capabilities,” said Robert Böhme, founder and head of the Part Time Scientists. “We look forward to future interaction and a fruitful partnership.”

The Part Time Scientists team was initiated in late 2008 by Robert Böhme, who works as an IT consultant in Berlin. The majority of the roughly 35 current engineers on the team come from Germany and Austria. Experts from three continents support the team, including former leading NASA employee Jack Crenshaw from Florida. Supporters of the group, in addition to Audi, include numerous research institutions and high tech companies including NVIDIA, Technical University of Berlin, the Austrian Space Forum (OeWF) and the German.

Audi Motorcars Responds to “Lemon Law” Complaint

In light of a recent complaint filed by retired Air Force colonel Ricardo L. Nolasco regarding an allegedly defective Audi A6 TDI he purchased last May 30, 2014, Audi Motorcars emphasized that Republic Act No. 10642 – otherwise known as “The Philippine Lemon Law” – is completely not applicable in this case. “In the first place, the car is not defective; the Lemon Law protects consumers against ‘lemons’, or substandard cars. The vehicle is most assuredly not a lemon,” stressed Lito Jose, Sales and Marketing Director of Audi Motorcars, Inc. “Audi is one of the leading and most respected luxury automotive brands in the world, and we make sure to uphold this proud heritage in the Philippines,” he added.

It was confirmed that the Audi A6 TDI was given full clearance to be released last September 2, 2014 after passing comprehensive diagnostic testing, but the owner has thus declined to retreive his vehicle, have it delivered, or even test-drive it.

“Based on our records and probably that of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), it is Mr. Reynaldo Anonuevo who is the registered owner of the vehicle, thus we are doubly perplexed why it is Mr. Nolasco who filed this misplaced complaint, and not Mr. Anonuevo,” Jose emphasized. “Nevertheless, we are committed to provide the best after-sales service within our abilities”.

While the vehicle was indeed brought in for servicing, Jose clarified that these involved minor issues and were readily resolved. “There are absolutely no more concerns, and any capable mechanic will attest that it is in perfect running condition,” he noted. “In fact, one of the owner’s first complaints was that the CD player was supposedly defective. We found out that there was nothing wrong with the player, but the pirated CD he inserted could not be read”.

At present, the vehicle still remains unclaimed in the Audi Service Center along EDSA. “Frankly, we are at a loss why he filed this complaint, when the vehicle has been sitting here for over a month now, ready for retrieval,” Jose stated. “He has an Audi here that is as good as new, ready to be driven at any time,” he concluded []