Mars Rotorcraft: Possibilities, Limitations, and Implications for Human/Robotic Exploration

Abstract

Several research investigations have examined the challenges and opportunities in the use of small robotic rotorcraft for the exploration of Mars. To date, only vehicles smaller than 150 kg have been studied. This paper proposes to examine the question of maximum Mars rotorcraft size, range and payload/cargo capacity. Implications for the issue of whether or not (from an extreme design standpoint) a manned Mars rotorcraft is viable are also discussed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 16, 2004
Accession Number
ADA532337

Entities

People

  • Edwin Aiken
  • Geoffrey Briggs
  • Larry A. Young
  • Pascal Lee

Organizations

  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Autonomy
  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • All Wing Aircraft
  • Center Of Gravity
  • Composite Materials
  • Control Systems
  • Electric Propulsion
  • Engineering
  • Epoxy Composites
  • Fixed Wing Aircraft
  • Fuselages
  • Mach Number
  • Propulsion Systems
  • Rotary Wing Aircraft
  • Unmanned Vehicles
  • Vehicles

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Agent-Based Social Robotics and Mobile-Assisted Learning in Virtual Environments.
  • Robotics and Automation.

Technology Areas

  • AI & ML
  • AI & ML - Autonomous Systems
  • AI & ML - DoD AI Strategy
  • Autonomy