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RUM's body provides a number of features designed to achieve effective performance in a number of tasks. These tools include a scoop, regolith storage compartment, a self-cleaning sieve, de-blinder mechanism, two shaker motors, a vibro-compactor surface, a grader blade, a rock removal pry bar, and a surface for geotechnical measurements. The top of the scoop body includes storage for sensors, and additional room for other features. RUM can also be outfitted with additional sensors, quick attachment mechanisms, and geotechnical testing tools. The bottom surface of RUM's excavator blade has a flat plate surface which is used primarily for compaction but can also be used to smooth surfaces. The capability to conduct compaction of in-situ soils up to and beyond 100% relative density is made possible by tunable, high-impact tamping and high-frequency vibrations (or any combination of the two).The sides of the scooping area are used when measuring bulk density and relative density, and allow for a smooth trench wall to be formed. RUM's blade edge can be used for rigorous tasks such as rock removal and prying. Size screened regolith is required for both construction and ISRU operations, RUM has the capability and sort regolith below 1mm particle size at 10-40 grams per second without clogging. In addition to sorting regolith. RUM can measure soil shear using an attached grader blade, conduct pressure sinkage testing of regolith bearing and trafficability properties, regolith angle of repose, and regolith density using photogrammetry and known volume samples.

WaveRider is a form of EDS technology that uses wires or insulated metal rods held a few millimeters above a substrate that is laden with dust. The wires carry a high-voltage AC square-wave signal. As the wires are moved across the surface, the dust is repelled and moves away from the wires until the whole surface is cleaned. The benefit of WaveRider over traditional EDS is that it can work on any surface, whereas traditional EDS only works with an insulating top coat. This would be a concern to any spacecraft that uses a statically dissipative surface as it's exterior top coat, and would require something like WaveRider to remove dust. Additionally, It may be beneficial to have moving wires as opposed to just having stationary electrodes for optically reliant surfaces (such as mirrors, solar panels, and helmets), as stationary wires can affect visibility. Also, because it uses wires, it can conform to irregularly shaped surfaces such as astronaut helmets or curved radiator surfaces. Moving electrodes may also offer fewer integration complexities compared with embedding stationary electrodes above the surface, since it may save weight and is structurally less complex. Electrodes on top of a surface don't place any burden on integrating it within a system (e.g., traditional EDS needs to be embedded inside cover glass for solar panels, inside O-rings/gaskets, or beneath the surface of a thermal control coating for radiators). It won't affect the properties of a coating, and there are no issues with how well it adheres to a surface like there are with traditional EDSs. Due to the nature of the technology, WaveRider could be adapted into a handheld tool that would allow much more ease of use, which is a freedom that astronauts wouldn't have if the system was built into a spacesuit or built into a machine.