Mostly Harmless
Member
It's beginning to look like the Mars 2020 rover will be carrying its own R/C 'copter to the Red Planet. I can't wait to see this in action. Or to see who will be the first one here to create their own model of this machine!
"However, perhaps the most innovative payload for Mars 2020 is the Mars Helicopter Scout (MHS), a solar powered helicopter drone that would enable an extended range of visual observations of the surrounding terrain as well as identification of potential up-close investigative targets of interest." From nasaspaceflight.com's article.
The amount of autonomy required by this aircraft is amazing. Most 'copter flyers here on Earth would have trouble flying with a half-second latency. Because of the long distances, radio signals take anywhere from 5 minutes to 10's of minutes to make the 1-way trip between the planets. Thus, this 'copter will have to fly under 100% autonomous control.
http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aerospace/2016-06-23/nasa-helicopter-could-fly-mars
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/10/mars-2020-rover-eyesight-skycrane-landing/
"However, perhaps the most innovative payload for Mars 2020 is the Mars Helicopter Scout (MHS), a solar powered helicopter drone that would enable an extended range of visual observations of the surrounding terrain as well as identification of potential up-close investigative targets of interest." From nasaspaceflight.com's article.
The amount of autonomy required by this aircraft is amazing. Most 'copter flyers here on Earth would have trouble flying with a half-second latency. Because of the long distances, radio signals take anywhere from 5 minutes to 10's of minutes to make the 1-way trip between the planets. Thus, this 'copter will have to fly under 100% autonomous control.
http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aerospace/2016-06-23/nasa-helicopter-could-fly-mars
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/10/mars-2020-rover-eyesight-skycrane-landing/