It is becoming more and more like the future of space exploration may involve large-scale drones.
We have already seen it here on Earth, where all kinds of flying drones are used by all kinds of people for all kinds of things. Drones are particularly useful in resource development, exploration, imaging, and remote sensing.
Could the future see drones flying around in the thin Martian atmosphere?
NASA has awarded $ 3.1 million to a group at the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory (LPL) to see if they can make that future a reality. The group is led by Christopher Hamilton, an Associate Professor at the LPL. Hamilton specializes in volcanology and lava flows, things that play a prominent role on the surface of Mars.
On Mars, drones could provide critical support to a rover or lander and improve the results of the mission at minimal additional cost compared to the cost of a rover mission. They could explore areas inaccessible to rovers, identify targets of interest, and help find paths through difficult terrain. Drones could possibly even collect samples. Hamilton’s team calls the idea Rover-Aerial Vehicle Exploration Networks or RAVEN.
The Holuhraun lava fields with rising steam. Photo credit: Christopher Hamilton.
RAVEN represents a shift in how NASA has historically approached exploration of other worlds. According to Hamilton, exploration so far has been carried out in four steps: flyby, orbiter, lander, and then a rover. That is more or less the exploration of Mars. First, a number of Mariner probes flew by to gather information, then the Viking program put a spacecraft into orbit around Mars and a lander on the surface. Then the Pathfinder mission brought the tiny Soujourner rover to the surface of Mars. There are currently several orbiters around Mars, a lander and a rover on the surface, and more are on the way.
But with RAVEN things would be a little different.
“With RAVEN, we’re adding ‘fly’ to that list,” said Hamilton. “And not only that – the whole concept is really geared towards developing new technologies and procedures with which two robots can work together on an alien body. We’ll examine how a rover and drone can work together to maximize the scientific output of such a mission. “
Christopher Hamilton of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory launches a drone during flight tests in the Holuhraun lava flow field. Photo credit: Christopher Hamilton
RAVEN will build on the work with the Perseverance Rover. When Perseverance lands on Mars in about a month, it will have the little Ingenuity helicopter with it. Ingenuity is a technology demonstration mission and is attached to the belly of the Perseverance rover. NASA expects the tiny helicopter to make one or more flights during its 30-day mission.
Hamilton is the lead researcher in the group investigating the feasibility of the drone rover concept. They went to Iceland to work on the concept at the Holuhraun lava flow field. Large parts of Mars’ surface are covered with lava fields, making the Holuhraun area a desirable analogue.
“It’s one of the newest properties in the world,” said Hamilton of the barren lava fields. “What makes it particularly interesting for us is that the lava was stored in a sandy area that is very similar to the appearance of some areas of Mars.”
Obviously, flying in the dense earth atmosphere is a world away from flying in the thin Martian atmosphere. However, testing RAVEN over the lava fields in Iceland continues to provide useful insight and information. It is an excellent opportunity to test instruments used to study lava fields.
“Volcanic terrain offers exciting exploration targets as it has the potential to create habitable hydrothermal systems that could support or sustain microbial life.”
Christopher Hamilton, lunar and planetary laboratory
The use of places on Earth as analogues for Mars is not new. This is a standard method for testing technology and training astronauts. The Icelandic highlands have been used before, and the Apollo astronauts trained there before walking on the moon.
Five years ago there were eruptions in Holuhraun that made the area extremely young. While most of the volcanic activity on Mars likely ended long ago, the lava fields on this planet are among the most recent terrain features. Scientists want to study them for a variety of reasons. Some scientists believe that volcanism could still exist on Mars. If so, there may be underground hydrothermal vent systems.
“Volcanic terrain offers exciting exploration targets as it can create habitable hydrothermal systems that could support or sustain microbial life,” said Hamilton. “RAVEN would make such places accessible for the first time.”
A geological map of Mars with all the different types of terrain. Click to enlarge. Photo credit: By Patrick Zasada – VSWD Wiss. Kolloq (20.9.2013) Abstract, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30473118
The lava fields are far too rough and uneven for a rover on wheels to traverse. Not only in Iceland, but also on Mars. Developing a drone is therefore the logical solution to the problem of exploring the fields. Indeed, drones can become desirable additions to rovers on all other worlds simply because in many cases flying is better than driving.
NASA knows this and hopes to learn more about drone operations during RAVEN’s three-year run. RAVEN is not so much about testing the drone’s flight abilities as flying on Mars is so different from flying on Earth. Instead, they hope to learn more about sample acquisition and navigation based on 3D computer terrain models. Combined with the results of the Perseverance Rover’s Ingenuity Helicopter, the results of RAVEN should form a solid foundation for the development of future drones that work hand in hand with rovers.
Lava flow features of different ages in the Daedalia Planum region on Mars. The image on the right is topographical. The blue colored field on the left is much older than the one on the right. The older one on the left is a lot smoother while the younger pink one on the right is a lot rougher. A flying drone would make it possible to explore rough surfaces like this lava field. Photo credits: ESA / DLR / FU Berlin, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
“Once Mars Helicopter demonstrates the ability to fly on Mars, we would develop the next generation of systems capabilities,” said Hamilton. “Specifically, we would look at what you would do with the next generation architecture.”
RAVEN will test a variety of payloads including lidar, hyperspectral imaging and drilling technology. NASA’s OSIRIS-Rex navigated to the surface of the asteroid Bennu using lidar and collected samples. Improvements to lidar systems will provide future drones with powerful autonomous navigation capabilities. Hyperspectral imaging enables RAVEN to capture images across the electromagnetic spectrum simultaneously, increasing the amount of data collected during each flight.
RAVEN also has a claw prototype. The claw can be used to collect rock samples and even sand shovels. Then it can return samples to its rover.
“… this project is part of the bold vision of landing humans on Mars in the not too distant future.”
Robert Robbins, President of the University of Arizona.
NASA has longstanding relationships with the University of Arizona and the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. The LPL led the design and construction of the HiRISE (High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. This instrument makes an enormous contribution to the study of Mars. The U of A is also heavily involved in the OSIRIS-Rex mission, and the main researcher is from the LPL at the university.
“It is a testament to the University of Arizona’s long history of planetary exploration that NASA continues to trust our experts to find solutions to some of our greatest challenges,” said Robert C. Robbins, president of the University of Arizona. “RAVEN is no exception as this project is part of the bold vision of landing humans on Mars in the not too distant future. I am excited to see where this project will lead. “
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