Nijkerk Electronics supports Team Polar with pioneering a zero-emission Antarctica

Team Polar is a student team from the Eindhoven University of Technology, aiming to make scientific research in Antarctica more sustainable, safer and accessible. Nijkerk Electronics is happy to support Team Polar with contactors from Sensata|Gigavac to achieve their goals. Currently, Antarctic researchers are deployed on blue ice fields to find meteorites. These researchers walk through the harsh winds and biting cold to find these meteorites. This makes current meteorite research in Antarctica dangerous, unsustainable, and inefficient. Team Polar’s mission is to create an autonomous, affordable, and sustainable research vehicle, called a rover, to facilitate research in the continent and improve the current human lead research.

Technical challenges

In 2023, Team Polar developed the first prototype rover, which was successfully tested in Norway. The team aims to be operational in Antarctica by 2028, with plans to test the next generation of rovers in arctic conditions by 2026. Technical challenges include scaling up cold-resistant batteries, preventing ice formation on solar panels, and developing an energy model for optimal route planning. Nijkerk Electronics supports Team Polar by providing reliable contactors for emergency stop tests, a crucial part of the vehicle’s development.

MX16CEB contactors from Sensata|Gigavac

Safety is a key factor in testing the rover. Team Polar uses MX16CEB contactors from Sensata|Gigavac, which are essential for the autonomous control of the vehicle, especially during emergencies. With frequent emergency stops needed during testing, it’s critical that the vehicle can be safely shut down without damaging the drive system. The MX16CEB contactors meet Team Polar’s requirements by safely disconnecting the high voltages from the electric motors, ensuring the vehicle can be brought to a controlled stop during autonomous system tests.

A successful partnership

Team Polar’s engineers are very satisfied with the Sensata|Gigavac contactors provided by Nijkerk Electronics. “The available technical information made it easy to create the necessary schematics, and installation was smooth. The contactors have performed as expected, allowing the team to successfully complete test runs without any issues”, says Nick Noordam, Electrical Team Lead of Team Polar.

With this valuable support from Nijkerk Electronics, Team Polar continues its mission to explore Antarctica in an efficient way that respects and protects the natural environment. Partnerships with technology providers like Nijkerk Electronics are crucial to the success of this ambitious project. At Nijkerk Electronics, we are proud and happy to support such meaningful initiatives by students!