This master's thesis focuses on the development and validation of a customized penetrometer for assessing mechanical soil properties, designed for small rovers exploring extraterrestrial surfaces. The penetrometer underwent multiple iterations, with the third prototype optimized for robustness and precision. Experiments involved three types of sand (MP-UF, MP-20, MP-MIX) at varying relative densities (RD = 0%, 50%, 100%). Results demonstrated that the device reliably measures soil resistance to penetration, facilitating the evaluation of bearing capacity and traversability. Additional analysis utilized the Mohr-Coulomb equation to determine shear strength and bearing capacity. Findings confirm that the penetrometer meets requirements for simulating lunar and Martian regolith. This research contributes to the development of compact soil analysis systems, critical for future autonomous navigation systems of rovers.
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