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The Mars Helicopter Is Online and Getting Ready to Fly

universetoday.com

21–30 of 265 posts

Re: The Mars Helicopter Is Online and Getting Ready to Fly

#21
post #8

I hope that the chopper will not generate an opaque cloud of dust while hovering and am looking forward to seeing spectacular images.

Given the weight of the craft and thin atmosphere, I would be surprised if there was any noticeable surface disturbance anytime outside of takeoff/landing.

Re: The Mars Helicopter Is Online and Getting Ready to Fly

#22
post #15
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sadly, this helicopter won't record any footage, it is only meant to test flight control and to proof that the idea will work for future missions. There is a interesting Veritasium episode (youtube) that talks about this (interviewing the actual designer from the JPL). The only footage will be from Perseverance filming the flight.

Wow, that’s disappointing. I’m surprised they couldn’t squeeze a basic mobile phone camera module on there just for the sake of it.

I suspect it's to save power. Even mobile phone cameras are very power hungry.

Re: The Mars Helicopter Is Online and Getting Ready to Fly

#23
One of the things I find really cool about Ingenuity is how it is in large based on consumer hardware. The main processor is a Snapdragon 801 running Linux which communicates with Perseverance using the Zigbee protocol [1]. Perseverance on the other hand uses a RAD750 from 2001! If successful I hope this can lead to more modern hardware for these kinds of missions in general.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingenuity_(helicopter)

Re: The Mars Helicopter Is Online and Getting Ready to Fly

#24
post #15
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sadly, this helicopter won't record any footage, it is only meant to test flight control and to proof that the idea will work for future missions. There is a interesting Veritasium episode (youtube) that talks about this (interviewing the actual designer from the JPL). The only footage will be from Perseverance filming the flight.

Wow, that’s disappointing. I’m surprised they couldn’t squeeze a basic mobile phone camera module on there just for the sake of it.

I think the rover is at least going to film the flight, but agree a camera in it would have been dope.

Re: The Mars Helicopter Is Online and Getting Ready to Fly

#26
post #8

I hope that the chopper will not generate an opaque cloud of dust while hovering and am looking forward to seeing spectacular images.

Given the weight of the craft and thin atmosphere, I would be surprised if there was any noticeable surface disturbance anytime outside of takeoff/landing.

Wouldn’t a thin atmosphere cause more disturbance? Naively, something thick and soupy is easier to push around than something thick and heavy.

Re: The Mars Helicopter Is Online and Getting Ready to Fly

#28
post #11
post #2

I am incredibly excited for this. Can believe how nervous the control engineers must be for this. Not sure what quality of the footage to expect from this.

Sadly, this helicopter won't record any footage, it is only meant to test flight control and to proof that the idea will work for future missions. There is a interesting Veritasium episode (youtube) that talks about this (interviewing the actual designer from the JPL). The only footage will be from Perseverance filming the flight.

Are you suuuuure about that?

> 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.

(From Wikipedia)

Also: https://mars.nasa.gov/resources/25526/bottom-of-ingenuity-ma...

I'm pretty sure the point of the helicopter, other than to test powered flight, is to capture frames.

Re: The Mars Helicopter Is Online and Getting Ready to Fly

#29
post #15
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sadly, this helicopter won't record any footage, it is only meant to test flight control and to proof that the idea will work for future missions. There is a interesting Veritasium episode (youtube) that talks about this (interviewing the actual designer from the JPL). The only footage will be from Perseverance filming the flight.

Wow, that’s disappointing. I’m surprised they couldn’t squeeze a basic mobile phone camera module on there just for the sake of it.

The problem isn't the camera, it's the uplink to Perseverance and all the other parts required for a usable camera. They're using Zigbee [1] to communicate with the Rover at 200 kbps and the solar panel recharging the batteries also have to power heaters to keep the electronics alive - there's no hardware connection between the two for data or power exchange AFAICT. The drone is already so heavy that it can only stay aloft for 90 seconds to a few minutes between charges so between the extra battery, lens, better antenna and RF module, etc. it'd require a redesign of the entire mission.

[1] https://rotorcraft.arc.nasa.gov/Publications/files/Balaram_A... - page 15

Re: The Mars Helicopter Is Online and Getting Ready to Fly

#30
post #11
post #2

I am incredibly excited for this. Can believe how nervous the control engineers must be for this. Not sure what quality of the footage to expect from this.

Sadly, this helicopter won't record any footage, it is only meant to test flight control and to proof that the idea will work for future missions. There is a interesting Veritasium episode (youtube) that talks about this (interviewing the actual designer from the JPL). The only footage will be from Perseverance filming the flight.

It does have cameras.

https://mars.nasa.gov/resources/25526/bottom-of-ingenuity-ma...

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