Experimental study of dual-reciprocating-drilling mechanism using design of experiment approach

Y. Gao et al. proved the feasibility of designing a woodwasp (Sirex Noctilio) inspired drill for Earth and extraterrestrial drilling and boring activities [1]. But before an optimised dual reciprocating drill design can be proposed, it is necessary to better understand the driving factors and the important parameters that influence this mechanism’s performance and, power and force requirements. Indeed the insect’s ovipositor is "optimised", through natural selection, for wood; but the dual reciprocating drill will bore into much different substrates. Here, the numerous parameters that could influence the studied mechanism’s performance are identified and the test bench to experimentally evaluate there influence is described.