Mastcam-Z Optomechanical System & Filter Wheels

Motiv engineered and built the optomechanical systems for Mastcam-Z, the mast-mounted 3D stereoscopic camera system on NASA JPL’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, developed under the guidance of ASU PI Jim Bell and Malin Space Science Systems. Mastcam-Z sits two meters above the rover as its primary science imager and is the first high-definition, 3D zoom-capable stereo camera system sent to another planet, featuring a 28-100mm zoom range, ability to resolve 1mm features at 100 meters, and 360-degree swivel with 180-degree pan. Motiv also built the Mastcam-Z Filter Wheel, containing eight specialty filters for multispectral imaging (11 narrow filters plus broadband RGB Bayer and direct solar imaging), and the SOMS Filter Wheel for an Earth-orbit imaging platform, which used a hybrid servo/stepper drive to reduce heat load into a cryogenic shroud, an 8-position, 100mm filter diameter wheel driven by Motiv’s Bravo motor controller with embedded control software.