Ingenuity (helicopter): Difference between revisions
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| instruments = {{Hlist|[[Inertial measurement unit|Inertial sensors]]|[[Lidar|Laser altimeter]]|Two [[navcam]]s}} |
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'''''Ingenuity''''' is a small robotic [[helicopter]] located on [[Mars]] since February 18, 2021 that is intended to be the first aircraft on Mars as well as make the powered and controlled atmospheric flight on any planet beyond Earth.<ref name="veritasium20190810" /> Part of [[NASA]]'s [[Mars 2020]] mission, the small [[coaxial rotors|coaxial]], [[Drone (aircraft)|drone]] [[rotorcraft]] will serve as a [[technology demonstration|technology demonstrator]] for the potential use of flying probes on other worlds, with the potential to scout locations of interest and support the future planning of driving routes for [[Mars rover]]s.<ref name="NYT-20200623">{{cite news|last=Chang|first=Kenneth|date=23 June 2020|title=Mars Is About to Have Its "Wright Brothers Moment" – As part of its next Mars mission, NASA is sending an experimental helicopter to fly through the red planet's thin atmosphere.|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/23/science/mars-helicopter-nasa.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623070602/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/23/science/mars-helicopter-nasa.html|archive-date=23 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="Leone heli">{{cite news|last=Leone|first=Dan|url=http://spacenews.com/elachi-touts-helicopter-scout-for-mars-sample-caching-rover/|title=Elachi Touts Helicopter Scout for Mars Sample-Caching Rover |publisher=SpaceNews|date=19 November 2015|access-date=20 November 2015|archive-date=21 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210221200007/https://spacenews.com/elachi-touts-helicopter-scout-for-mars-sample-caching-rover/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="landing press kit"/> |
'''''Ingenuity''''' is a small robotic [[helicopter]] located on [[Mars]] since February 18, 2021 that is intended to be the first aircraft on Mars as well as make the powered and controlled atmospheric flight on any planet beyond Earth.<ref name="veritasium20190810" /> Part of [[NASA]]'s [[Mars 2020]] mission, the small [[coaxial rotors|coaxial]], [[Drone (aircraft)|drone]] [[rotorcraft]] will serve as a [[technology demonstration|technology demonstrator]] for the potential use of flying probes on other worlds, with the potential to scout locations of interest and support the future planning of driving routes for [[Mars rover]]s.<ref name="NYT-20200623">{{cite news|last=Chang|first=Kenneth|date=23 June 2020|title=Mars Is About to Have Its "Wright Brothers Moment" – As part of its next Mars mission, NASA is sending an experimental helicopter to fly through the red planet's thin atmosphere.|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/23/science/mars-helicopter-nasa.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623070602/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/23/science/mars-helicopter-nasa.html|archive-date=23 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="Leone heli">{{cite news|last=Leone|first=Dan|url=http://spacenews.com/elachi-touts-helicopter-scout-for-mars-sample-caching-rover/|title=Elachi Touts Helicopter Scout for Mars Sample-Caching Rover |publisher=SpaceNews|date=19 November 2015|access-date=20 November 2015|archive-date=21 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210221200007/https://spacenews.com/elachi-touts-helicopter-scout-for-mars-sample-caching-rover/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="landing press kit"/> |
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''Ingenuity'', now on the Martian surface, was attached to the underside of the ''[[Perseverance (rover)|Perseverance]]'' rover. Its deployment was originally planned for April 8, 2021,<ref name="Today">{{cite news | title = Mars Rover Perseverance Set To Launch Drone | newspaper = [[Today (American TV program)]] | publisher = [[YouTube]] | date = 24 March 2021 | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ceFiynmNB0&ab_channel=TODAY | accessdate = 2021-03-27 }}</ref><ref name="NYT-20210323">{{cite news |last=hang |first=Kenneth |title=Get Ready for the First Flight of NASA’s Mars Helicopter - The experimental vehicle named Ingenuity traveled to the red planet with the Perseverance rover, which is also preparing for its main science mission. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/23/science/nasa-mars-helicopter.html |date=23 March 2021 |work=[[The New York Times]] |accessdate=23 March 2021 }}</ref><ref name="NASA-20210323">{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Alana |last2=Hautaluoma |first2=Grey |last3=Agle |first3=DC |title=NASA Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Prepares for First Flight |url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-ingenuity-mars-helicopter-prepares-for-first-flight |date=23 March 2021 |work=[[NASA]] |accessdate=23 March 2021 }}</ref> about 60 days after ''Perseverance''{{'}}s landing at the [[Octavia E. Butler Landing]] site in [[Jezero (crater)|Jezero]] crater, |
''Ingenuity'', now on the Martian surface, was attached to the underside of the ''[[Perseverance (rover)|Perseverance]]'' rover. Its deployment was originally planned for April 8, 2021,<ref name="Today">{{cite news | title = Mars Rover Perseverance Set To Launch Drone | newspaper = [[Today (American TV program)]] | publisher = [[YouTube]] | date = 24 March 2021 | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ceFiynmNB0&ab_channel=TODAY | accessdate = 2021-03-27 }}</ref><ref name="NYT-20210323">{{cite news |last=hang |first=Kenneth |title=Get Ready for the First Flight of NASA’s Mars Helicopter - The experimental vehicle named Ingenuity traveled to the red planet with the Perseverance rover, which is also preparing for its main science mission. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/23/science/nasa-mars-helicopter.html |date=23 March 2021 |work=[[The New York Times]] |accessdate=23 March 2021 }}</ref><ref name="NASA-20210323">{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Alana |last2=Hautaluoma |first2=Grey |last3=Agle |first3=DC |title=NASA Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Prepares for First Flight |url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-ingenuity-mars-helicopter-prepares-for-first-flight |date=23 March 2021 |work=[[NASA]] |accessdate=23 March 2021 }}</ref> about 60 days after ''Perseverance''{{'}}s landing at the [[Octavia E. Butler Landing]] site in [[Jezero (crater)|Jezero]] crater, take off is planned for no sooner than April 11, 2021.<ref name="NASA-20200623">{{cite news|last1=Agle|first1=D.C.|last2=Hautaluoma|first2=Gray|last3=Johnson|first3=Alana|title=How NASA's Mars Helicopter Will Reach the Red Planet's Surface|url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/how-nasas-mars-helicopter-will-reach-the-red-planets-surface|date=23 June 2020|publisher=NASA|access-date=23 February 2021 |archive-date=19 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219062523/https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/how-nasas-mars-helicopter-will-reach-the-red-planets-surface|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> The rover is expected to drive approximately {{cvt|100|m}} away from the drone to allow it a safe "buffer zone" in which it will attempt to fly.<ref>[http://www.ibtimes.com/nasas-mars-helicopter-small-autonomous-rotorcraft-fly-red-planet-2680575 "NASA's Mars Helicopter: Small, Autonomous Rotorcraft To Fly On Red Planet"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710011219/http://www.ibtimes.com/nasas-mars-helicopter-small-autonomous-rotorcraft-fly-red-planet-2680575|date=10 July 2018}}, Shubham Sharma, ''International Business Times'', 14 May 2018</ref><ref name="Universe2018">{{cite web|date=July 2018|title=Mars Helicopter a new challenge for flight |url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/universe/archive/universe1807.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101170951/https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/universe/archive/universe1807.pdf|archive-date=1 January 2020|access-date=20 July 2018|publisher=NASA}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> ''Ingenuity'' is expected to fly up to five times during its 30-day test campaign scheduled early in the rover's mission. Primarily technology demonstrations,<ref name='landing press kit'/><ref name="spacenews 20180504">[http://spacenews.com/decision-expected-soon-on-adding-helicopter-to-mars-2020/ Decision expected soon on adding helicopter to Mars 2020], Jeff Fout, ''SpaceNews'' 4 May 2018</ref> each flight is planned to fly at altitudes ranging from {{cvt|3|-|5|m|0}} above the ground.<ref name='landing press kit'/> for up to 90 seconds each. ''Ingenuity'', which can travel up to {{cvt|50|m}} [[downrange]] and then back to the starting area,<ref name='landing press kit'/> will use [[autonomous robot|autonomous control]] during its short flights, which will be [[telerobotic]]ally planned and scripted by operators at the [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]] (JPL). It will communicate directly with the ''Perseverance'' rover after each landing. |
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If ''Ingenuity'' works as expected, NASA could build on its design to extend the aerial component of future [[List of missions to Mars|Mars missions]].<ref name="Balaram 2018">[https://rotorcraft.arc.nasa.gov/Publications/files/Balaram_AIAA2018_0023.pdf Mars Helicopter Technology Demonstrator] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401121747/https://rotorcraft.arc.nasa.gov/Publications/files/Balaram_AIAA2018_0023.pdf|date=1 April 2019}} J. (Bob) Balaram, Timothy Canham, Courtney Duncan, Matt Golombek, Håvard Fjær Grip, Wayne Johnson, Justin Maki, Amelia Quon, Ryan Stern, and David Zhu; American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) SciTech Forum Conference 8–12 January 2018 Kissimmee, Florida {{doi|10.2514/6.2018-0023}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> The project is led by [[MiMi Aung]] at the JPL.<ref>[http://kiss.caltech.edu/lectures/Aung_Lecture_2015.html MiMi Aung – Autonomous Systems Deputy Division Manager] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180605180541/http://kiss.caltech.edu/lectures/Aung_Lecture_2015.html|date=5 June 2018}} NASA/JPL {{PD-notice}}</ref> Other contributors include [[AeroVironment|AeroVironment, Inc.]], the NASA [[Ames Research Center]], and the NASA [[Langley Research Center]].<ref name="Witold 2018">[https://rotorcraft.arc.nasa.gov/Publications/files/Koning_2018_TechMx.pdf Generation of Mars Helicopter Rotor Model for Comprehensive Analyses] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101170950/https://rotorcraft.arc.nasa.gov/Publications/files/Koning_2018_TechMx.pdf|date=1 January 2020}}, Witold J. F. Koning, Wayne Johnson, Brian G. Allan; NASA 2018 {{PD-notice}}</ref> |
If ''Ingenuity'' works as expected, NASA could build on its design to extend the aerial component of future [[List of missions to Mars|Mars missions]].<ref name="Balaram 2018">[https://rotorcraft.arc.nasa.gov/Publications/files/Balaram_AIAA2018_0023.pdf Mars Helicopter Technology Demonstrator] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401121747/https://rotorcraft.arc.nasa.gov/Publications/files/Balaram_AIAA2018_0023.pdf|date=1 April 2019}} J. (Bob) Balaram, Timothy Canham, Courtney Duncan, Matt Golombek, Håvard Fjær Grip, Wayne Johnson, Justin Maki, Amelia Quon, Ryan Stern, and David Zhu; American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) SciTech Forum Conference 8–12 January 2018 Kissimmee, Florida {{doi|10.2514/6.2018-0023}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> The project is led by [[MiMi Aung]] at the JPL.<ref>[http://kiss.caltech.edu/lectures/Aung_Lecture_2015.html MiMi Aung – Autonomous Systems Deputy Division Manager] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180605180541/http://kiss.caltech.edu/lectures/Aung_Lecture_2015.html|date=5 June 2018}} NASA/JPL {{PD-notice}}</ref> Other contributors include [[AeroVironment|AeroVironment, Inc.]], the NASA [[Ames Research Center]], and the NASA [[Langley Research Center]].<ref name="Witold 2018">[https://rotorcraft.arc.nasa.gov/Publications/files/Koning_2018_TechMx.pdf Generation of Mars Helicopter Rotor Model for Comprehensive Analyses] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101170950/https://rotorcraft.arc.nasa.gov/Publications/files/Koning_2018_TechMx.pdf|date=1 January 2020}}, Witold J. F. Koning, Wayne Johnson, Brian G. Allan; NASA 2018 {{PD-notice}}</ref> |
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==Mission profile== |
==Mission profile== |
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''Ingenuity'' was deployed on April 3rd, 2021, after landing with the rover ''[[Perseverance (rover)|Perseverance]]'' in the crater [[Jezero (crater)|Jezero]] at [[Octavia E. Butler Landing]] on 18 February 2021 and removal of debris shield on 21 March 2021.<ref name="NASA-20200623">{{cite news|last1=Agle|first1=D.C.|last2=Hautaluoma|first2=Gray|last3=Johnson|first3=Alana|title=How NASA's Mars Helicopter Will Reach the Red Planet's Surface|url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/how-nasas-mars-helicopter-will-reach-the-red-planets-surface|date=23 June 2020|publisher=NASA|access-date=23 February 2021 |archive-date=19 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219062523/https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/how-nasas-mars-helicopter-will-reach-the-red-planets-surface|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> After deployment, the rover is expected to drive approximately {{cvt|100|m}} away from the drone to allow it a safe "buffer zone" in which it will attempt to fly in April 2021.<ref>[http://www.ibtimes.com/nasas-mars-helicopter-small-autonomous-rotorcraft-fly-red-planet-2680575 "NASA's Mars Helicopter: Small, Autonomous Rotorcraft To Fly On Red Planet"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710011219/http://www.ibtimes.com/nasas-mars-helicopter-small-autonomous-rotorcraft-fly-red-planet-2680575|date=10 July 2018}}, Shubham Sharma, ''International Business Times'', 14 May 2018</ref><ref name="Universe2018">{{cite web|date=July 2018|title=Mars Helicopter a new challenge for flight |url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/universe/archive/universe1807.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101170951/https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/universe/archive/universe1807.pdf|archive-date=1 January 2020|access-date=20 July 2018|publisher=NASA}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> The ''Ingenuity'' helicopter is expected to fly up to five times during its 30-day test campaign in April 2021, early in the rover's mission.<ref name='landing press kit'/><ref name="spacenews 20180504">[http://spacenews.com/decision-expected-soon-on-adding-helicopter-to-mars-2020/ Decision expected soon on adding helicopter to Mars 2020], Jeff Fout, ''SpaceNews'' 4 May 2018</ref> Each flight is planned to be at altitudes ranging from {{cvt|3|-|5|m|0}} above the ground.<ref name='landing press kit'/> In up to 90 seconds per flight, it could travel as far as {{cvt|50|m}} [[downrange]] and then back to the starting area.<ref name='landing press kit'/> It will use [[autonomous robot|autonomous control]] during its short flights, although flights will be [[telerobotic]]ally planned and scripted by operators at the [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]] (JPL). It will communicate with the ''Perseverance'' rover directly after each landing. |
''Ingenuity'' was deployed on April 3rd, 2021<ref name="NASA-20210404">{{cite web |title=NASA's Mars Helicopter Survives First Cold Martian Night on Its Own |url=https://mars.nasa.gov/news/8906/nasas-mars-helicopter-survives-first-cold-martian-night-on-its-own/ |website=Nasa Mars Website}}</ref>, after landing with the rover ''[[Perseverance (rover)|Perseverance]]'' in the crater [[Jezero (crater)|Jezero]] at [[Octavia E. Butler Landing]] on 18 February 2021 and removal of debris shield on 21 March 2021.<ref name="NASA-20200623">{{cite news|last1=Agle|first1=D.C.|last2=Hautaluoma|first2=Gray|last3=Johnson|first3=Alana|title=How NASA's Mars Helicopter Will Reach the Red Planet's Surface|url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/how-nasas-mars-helicopter-will-reach-the-red-planets-surface|date=23 June 2020|publisher=NASA|access-date=23 February 2021 |archive-date=19 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219062523/https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/how-nasas-mars-helicopter-will-reach-the-red-planets-surface|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> After deployment, the rover is expected to drive approximately {{cvt|100|m}} away from the drone to allow it a safe "buffer zone" in which it will attempt to fly in April 2021.<ref>[http://www.ibtimes.com/nasas-mars-helicopter-small-autonomous-rotorcraft-fly-red-planet-2680575 "NASA's Mars Helicopter: Small, Autonomous Rotorcraft To Fly On Red Planet"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710011219/http://www.ibtimes.com/nasas-mars-helicopter-small-autonomous-rotorcraft-fly-red-planet-2680575|date=10 July 2018}}, Shubham Sharma, ''International Business Times'', 14 May 2018</ref><ref name="Universe2018">{{cite web|date=July 2018|title=Mars Helicopter a new challenge for flight |url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/universe/archive/universe1807.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101170951/https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/universe/archive/universe1807.pdf|archive-date=1 January 2020|access-date=20 July 2018|publisher=NASA}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> The ''Ingenuity'' helicopter is expected to fly up to five times during its 30-day test campaign in April 2021, early in the rover's mission.<ref name='landing press kit'/><ref name="spacenews 20180504">[http://spacenews.com/decision-expected-soon-on-adding-helicopter-to-mars-2020/ Decision expected soon on adding helicopter to Mars 2020], Jeff Fout, ''SpaceNews'' 4 May 2018</ref> Each flight is planned to be at altitudes ranging from {{cvt|3|-|5|m|0}} above the ground.<ref name='landing press kit'/> In up to 90 seconds per flight, it could travel as far as {{cvt|50|m}} [[downrange]] and then back to the starting area.<ref name='landing press kit'/> It will use [[autonomous robot|autonomous control]] during its short flights, although flights will be [[telerobotic]]ally planned and scripted by operators at the [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]] (JPL). It will communicate with the ''Perseverance'' rover directly after each landing. |
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== Commemorative artifacts == |
== Commemorative artifacts == |
Revision as of 15:53, 5 April 2021
This article documents a current or recent spaceflight. Details may change as the mission progresses. Initial news reports may be unreliable. The last updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. For more information please see WikiProject Spaceflight. |
Ingenuity | |
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Part of Mars 2020 | |
![]() Ingenuity helicopter deployed on the Martian surface by the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover | |
Type | UAV helicopter |
Other name(s) |
|
Manufacturer | Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA) |
Specifications | |
Dimensions | |
Power | 350 watts[1][2] |
Instruments | |
Ingenuity is a small robotic helicopter located on Mars since February 18, 2021 that is intended to be the first aircraft on Mars as well as make the powered and controlled atmospheric flight on any planet beyond Earth.[3] Part of NASA's Mars 2020 mission, the small coaxial, drone rotorcraft will serve as a technology demonstrator for the potential use of flying probes on other worlds, with the potential to scout locations of interest and support the future planning of driving routes for Mars rovers.[4][5][1]
Ingenuity, now on the Martian surface, was attached to the underside of the Perseverance rover. Its deployment was originally planned for April 8, 2021,[6][7][8] about 60 days after Perseverance's landing at the Octavia E. Butler Landing site in Jezero crater, take off is planned for no sooner than April 11, 2021.[9] The rover is expected to drive approximately 100 m (330 ft) away from the drone to allow it a safe "buffer zone" in which it will attempt to fly.[10][11] Ingenuity is expected to fly up to five times during its 30-day test campaign scheduled early in the rover's mission. Primarily technology demonstrations,[1][12] each flight is planned to fly at altitudes ranging from 3–5 m (10–16 ft) above the ground.[1] for up to 90 seconds each. Ingenuity, which can travel up to 50 m (160 ft) downrange and then back to the starting area,[1] will use autonomous control during its short flights, which will be telerobotically planned and scripted by operators at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). It will communicate directly with the Perseverance rover after each landing.
If Ingenuity works as expected, NASA could build on its design to extend the aerial component of future Mars missions.[13] The project is led by MiMi Aung at the JPL.[14] Other contributors include AeroVironment, Inc., the NASA Ames Research Center, and the NASA Langley Research Center.[15]
Ingenuity carries a piece of fabric from the wing of the 1903 Wright Flyer, the Wright Brothers' airplane, humanity's first controlled powered flight on Earth.
Name
The vehicle was named Ingenuity by Vaneeza Ruppani, a girl in the 11th grade at Tuscaloosa County High School in Northport, Alabama, who submitted an essay into NASA's "Name the Rover" contest.[16][17] Known in planning stages as the Mars Helicopter Scout,[18] or simply the Mars Helicopter[19] the nickname Ginny later entered use in parallel to the parent rover Perseverance being affectionately referred to as Percy.[20]
Design
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Anatomy_of_the_Mars_Helicopter.png/260px-Anatomy_of_the_Mars_Helicopter.png)
Rotor speed | 2400 rpm[1][19] |
Blade tip speed | <0.7 Mach[18] |
Operational time | 1 to 5 flights within 30 sols[1][2] |
Flight time | Up to 90 seconds per flight[1] |
Maximum range, flight | 50 m (160 ft)[1] |
Maximum range, radio | 1,000 m (3,300 ft)[13] |
Maximum planned altitude | 5 m (16 ft)[1] |
Maximum speed | |
Battery capacity | 35–40 Wh (130–140 kJ)[3] |
Because the atmosphere of Mars is only about 1⁄100 as dense as that of Earth at surface level,[21] it is much harder for an aircraft to generate lift, a difficulty only partially offset by Mars' lower gravity (about a third of Earth's).[4] Liftoff from Mars' surface has been described as equivalent to flying at 100,000 ft (30,000 m) above Earth, an altitude that has never been reached by existing helicopters.[4]
Ingenuity is designed to be a technology demonstrator by JPL to assess whether this technology can fly safely, and provide better mapping and guidance that would give future mission controllers more information to help with travel routes planning and hazard avoidance, as well as identifying points of interest for the rover.[22][23][24] The helicopter is designed to provide overhead images with approximately ten times the resolution of orbital images, and will provide images of features that may be occluded from the cameras of the Perseverance rover.[25] It is expected that such scouting may enable future rovers to safely drive up to three times as far per sol.[26]
The helicopter uses contra-rotating coaxial rotors about 1.2 m (4 ft) in diameter. Its payload is a high resolution downward-looking camera for navigation, landing, and science surveying of the terrain, and a communication system to relay data to the Perseverance rover.[27] Although it is an aircraft, it was constructed to spacecraft specifications in order to endure the g-force and vibration during launch.[28] It also includes radiation-resistant systems capable of operating in the frigid environment of Mars. The inconsistent Mars magnetic field precludes the use of a compass for navigation, so it uses a solar tracker camera integrated to JPL's visual inertial navigation system. Some additional inputs include gyros, visual odometry, tilt sensors, altimeter, and hazard detectors.[29] It was designed to use solar panels to recharge its batteries, which are six Sony Li-ion cells with 35–40 Wh (130–140 kJ) of battery energy capacity[3] (nameplate capacity of 2 Ah).[13]
The helicopter uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor with a Linux operating system.[30] Among other functions, this processor controls the visual navigation algorithm via a velocity estimate derived from features tracked with a camera.[13] The Qualcomm processor is connected to two flight-control microcontroller units (MCUs) to perform the necessary flight-control functions.[13] It also carries an IMU and a Garmin LIDAR Lite v3 laser altimeter.[30] Communications with the rover are through a radio link using low-power Zigbee communication protocols, implemented via 900 MHz SiFlex 02 chipsets mounted in both the rover and helicopter.[13] The communication system is designed to relay data at 250 kbit/s over distances of up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft).[13]
Development
NASA's JPL and AeroVironment published the conceptual design in 2014 for a scout helicopter to accompany a rover.[15][31][32] By mid 2016, US$15 million was being requested to keep development of the helicopter on track.[33] By December 2017, engineering models of the vehicle had been tested in a simulated Martian atmosphere[13][34] and models were undergoing testing in the Arctic, but its inclusion in the mission had not yet been approved nor funded.[35] The United States federal budget, announced in March 2018, provided US$23 million for the helicopter for one year[36][37] and it was announced on 11 May 2018 that the helicopter could be developed and tested in time to be included in the Mars 2020 mission.[38] The helicopter underwent extensive flight-dynamics and environment testing,[13][39] and was then mounted on the underside of the Perseverance rover in August 2019.[40] Its mass is just under 1.8 kg (4.0 lb)[39] and JPL has specified that it is planned to have a design life of five flights on Mars.[41][38] NASA has invested about US$80 million to build Ingenuity and about US$5 million to operate the helicopter.[42]
Preliminary tests on Earth
In 2019, preliminary designs of Ingenuity were tested on Earth in simulated Mars atmospheric and gravity conditions. For flight testing, a large vacuum chamber was used to simulate the very low atmospheric pressure of Mars – filled with carbon dioxide to approximately 0.60% (about 1⁄160) of standard atmospheric pressure at sea level on Earth – which is roughly equivalent to a helicopter flying at 34,000 m (112,000 ft) altitude in the atmosphere of Earth. In order to simulate the much reduced gravity field of Mars (38% of Earth's), 62% of Earth's gravity was offset by a line pulling upwards during flight tests.[3]
Future Mars rover design iteration
The Ingenuity technology demonstrator could form the foundation on which more capable aircraft might be developed for aerial exploration of Mars and other planetary targets with an atmosphere.[22][13][43] The next generation of rotorcraft could be in the range between 5 and 15 kg (11 and 33 lb) with science payloads between 0.5 and 1.5 kg (1.1 and 3.3 lb). These potential aircraft could have direct communication to an orbiter and may or may not continue to work with a landed asset.[11] Future helicopters could be used to explore special regions with exposed water ice or brines, where Earth microbial life could potentially survive. Mars helicopters may also be considered for fast retrieval of small sample caches back to a Mars ascent vehicle for return to Earth such as the one to be launched in 2026.[42][13]
Mission profile
Ingenuity was deployed on April 3rd, 2021[44], after landing with the rover Perseverance in the crater Jezero at Octavia E. Butler Landing on 18 February 2021 and removal of debris shield on 21 March 2021.[9] After deployment, the rover is expected to drive approximately 100 m (330 ft) away from the drone to allow it a safe "buffer zone" in which it will attempt to fly in April 2021.[45][11] The Ingenuity helicopter is expected to fly up to five times during its 30-day test campaign in April 2021, early in the rover's mission.[1][12] Each flight is planned to be at altitudes ranging from 3–5 m (10–16 ft) above the ground.[1] In up to 90 seconds per flight, it could travel as far as 50 m (160 ft) downrange and then back to the starting area.[1] It will use autonomous control during its short flights, although flights will be telerobotically planned and scripted by operators at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). It will communicate with the Perseverance rover directly after each landing.
Commemorative artifacts
Tribute to Wright Brothers
A small piece of the wing covering from the Wright brothers' 1903 Wright Flyer, the first powered aircraft on Earth, is attached to a cable underneath Ingenuity's solar panel.[46] In 1969 Apollo 11's Neil Armstrong carried a similar Wright Flyer artifact to the Moon in the Lunar Module Eagle.
Gallery
Flight tests on Mars
See also
- ARES – 2008 robotic Mars aircraft proposal
- Atmosphere of Mars
- Dragonfly – Robotic rotorcraft mission to Saturn's moon Titan, launching in 2027
- Sky-Sailor – 2004 proposal of a robotic Mars aircraft
References
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{{cite news}}
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External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- NASA Mars Helicopter webpage
- Mars Helicopter Technology Demonstrator. (PDF) – The key design features of the prototype drone.