NASA Tests Drones in Death Valley, Prepares for Martian Sands and Skies
In a bid to develop next-generation drone flight software that can navigate the harsh terrain of Mars, NASA engineers have been conducting tests in California's Death Valley National Park. The research is part of the agency's ongoing efforts to push the limits of future technologies and prepare for a potential manned mission to the Red Planet.
The team from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) traveled to the park's Mars Hill and Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes in late April and early September, where they tested their drones in conditions that mimic those found on Mars. The extreme heat and featureless desert terrain proved ideal for honing navigation software, with temperatures soaring as high as 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius).
The Extended Robust Aerial Autonomy project aims to develop an autonomous drone system that can safely navigate complex terrain, including blander areas like the sand dunes. According to Roland Brockers, a JPL researcher and drone pilot, "We want future vehicles to be more versatile and not have to worry about flying over challenging areas like these sand dunes."
The research campaign has already yielded valuable findings, including how different camera filters help drones track the ground and how new algorithms can guide them to safely land in cluttered terrain. The test results are expected to be crucial for NASA's future Mars missions.
Other researchers have been using Death Valley as a proving ground for space exploration. In August, scientists from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston tested a dog-like robot called LASSIE-M (Legged Autonomous Surface Science In Analogue Environments for Mars) at White Sands National Park in New Mexico. The robot can shift its gait to encounter terrain that is softer, looser, or crustier.
NASA is also developing an autonomous robot with wings, the Mars Electric Reusable Flyer (MERF), which aims to trade compactness for range and speed. With a fuselage and tail that would be too heavy for flight, the MERF design unfolds to be about as long as a small school bus, but its lightweight materials make it ideal for flying in Mars' thin atmosphere.
The Mars Exploration Program has funded 25 projects this year, including research on new forms of power generation, drills, sampling equipment, and cutting-edge autonomous software. The agency's goal is to develop technologies that can help robots explore all on their own – or even assist astronauts with their work.
In a bid to develop next-generation drone flight software that can navigate the harsh terrain of Mars, NASA engineers have been conducting tests in California's Death Valley National Park. The research is part of the agency's ongoing efforts to push the limits of future technologies and prepare for a potential manned mission to the Red Planet.
The team from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) traveled to the park's Mars Hill and Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes in late April and early September, where they tested their drones in conditions that mimic those found on Mars. The extreme heat and featureless desert terrain proved ideal for honing navigation software, with temperatures soaring as high as 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius).
The Extended Robust Aerial Autonomy project aims to develop an autonomous drone system that can safely navigate complex terrain, including blander areas like the sand dunes. According to Roland Brockers, a JPL researcher and drone pilot, "We want future vehicles to be more versatile and not have to worry about flying over challenging areas like these sand dunes."
The research campaign has already yielded valuable findings, including how different camera filters help drones track the ground and how new algorithms can guide them to safely land in cluttered terrain. The test results are expected to be crucial for NASA's future Mars missions.
Other researchers have been using Death Valley as a proving ground for space exploration. In August, scientists from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston tested a dog-like robot called LASSIE-M (Legged Autonomous Surface Science In Analogue Environments for Mars) at White Sands National Park in New Mexico. The robot can shift its gait to encounter terrain that is softer, looser, or crustier.
NASA is also developing an autonomous robot with wings, the Mars Electric Reusable Flyer (MERF), which aims to trade compactness for range and speed. With a fuselage and tail that would be too heavy for flight, the MERF design unfolds to be about as long as a small school bus, but its lightweight materials make it ideal for flying in Mars' thin atmosphere.
The Mars Exploration Program has funded 25 projects this year, including research on new forms of power generation, drills, sampling equipment, and cutting-edge autonomous software. The agency's goal is to develop technologies that can help robots explore all on their own – or even assist astronauts with their work.
. It's not just about preparing for a Martian mission, it's about mapping out areas that are gonna be crucial for establishing a secret underground base 
. I mean think about it, what better way to test autonomous drone tech than on some desert terrain that's basically identical to Mars? 
And those "valuable findings" they're talking about? Just don't want people to know the true extent of their research... 
The potential applications of this research extend beyond Mars exploration, offering insights into advanced navigation algorithms and autonomous systems for various fields. 
NASA is literally getting ready for a trip to Mars 
! They're testing drones in Death Valley because the terrain is so similar to what they'll find on the Red Planet 
about this research, it's going to be so cool to see robots exploring all on their own 
. The fact that they're developing autonomous software and robots with wings 
️ is just mind-blowing 
. Can you imagine having a robot friend 
who can navigate through Mars' harsh terrain? 
That's the future we need! 
and then there's the Mars Electric Reusable Flyer which is literally just a bus with wings what's not to love?! 
. I'm kinda stoked about this tech 
.
. It's like they're trying to create a robot version of Google Maps 
. And, oh yeah! NASA is also working on an autonomous flying robot called MERF 
.
. The researchers are learning valuable stuff from this project, and I'm excited to see what they come up with next 
.
Just kidding! But seriously, this research is so cool and I'm hyped to see what they come up with. Autonomy is gonna be a game-changer for space exploration - imagine robots flying around on their own without human intervention! 
The team's working hard to make drones more versatile, which means we'll get to see even cooler tech in the future. And let's not forget about LASSIE-M, that robot dog is everything! 
They're really pushing the limits of tech and preparing for those crazy Martian landscapes. I mean, who needs a movie when you've got real-life robots navigating sand dunes like they're on Mars? 
. I mean, what's next? Flying robots to Mars?! 
! The Mars Electric Reusable Flyer (MERF) has a crazy design, but it's super lightweight which makes it perfect for flying in thin Martian air 
!
But seriously, these tests are super important for the future Mars missions. I mean, the devs need to figure out how their drones can handle all sorts of terrain and conditions on the Red Planet. And who knows, maybe one day we'll have robots that can just chill on Mars like its no big deal 
it's all about getting those techs tested in real-world conditions. And can we talk about the Mars Electric Reusable Flyer (MERF)? 
they were literally testing out drone tech for mars lol NASA is soooo serious about getting ready for that mission 
. Plus, have you seen the size of that drone they're developing? It's like a small school bus 
! What's wrong with just using regular drones or even better, humans, to get the job done?