group
What campus are you from?
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Maxwell Perkins, Freshman Aayan Mehra, Freshman, Garrett Jarvis, Freshman Samuel Mago, Freshman Nicholas Christianson, Freshman
Lead Presenter's Name
Maxwell Perkins
Faculty Mentor Name
Claudia Ehringer Lucas
Abstract
The Surface and Subsurface Mapping Drone (SSMD) is an extraterrestrial drone that will map the Martian surface and subsurface using a combination of LiDAR and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). When designed, the SSMD was inspired by NASA’s ingenuity helicopter, the first unmanned drone to fly in Mars’ atmosphere. Similar to Ingenuity, the SSMD will be made of mostly lightweight materials such as aluminum and carbon fiber. These materials will provide the drone with the necessary strength to carry its own weight, while also keeping its mass as low as possible so that it can fly in Mars’ ultra-thin atmosphere. However, the SSMD uses a quadcopter design, enabling it to carry additional components and scientific tools. At its core, the drone houses a 3U CubeSat containing batteries, onboard computer, and a communication antenna, keeping the design as compact as possible. The SSMD will support future crewed Mars missions and will be deployed to map the surrounding area for any anomalies or points of interest (POI). To efficiently fly on Mars, the drone will use 4 carbon fiber propellors, each with a diameter of approximately 1.5 meters. The large propellor size, combined with lightweight, carbon fiber material, will maximize lift, while also lowering the overall mass of the drone. Additionally, the SSMD will improve mapping capabilities, travelling further and faster than previously used rovers. Overall, it will increase the safety of crewed missions to Mars by allowing for the scouting of specific areas prior to any extra vehicular activities on the surface.
Did this research project receive funding support from the Office of Undergraduate Research.
No
Surface and Subsurface Mapping Drone
The Surface and Subsurface Mapping Drone (SSMD) is an extraterrestrial drone that will map the Martian surface and subsurface using a combination of LiDAR and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). When designed, the SSMD was inspired by NASA’s ingenuity helicopter, the first unmanned drone to fly in Mars’ atmosphere. Similar to Ingenuity, the SSMD will be made of mostly lightweight materials such as aluminum and carbon fiber. These materials will provide the drone with the necessary strength to carry its own weight, while also keeping its mass as low as possible so that it can fly in Mars’ ultra-thin atmosphere. However, the SSMD uses a quadcopter design, enabling it to carry additional components and scientific tools. At its core, the drone houses a 3U CubeSat containing batteries, onboard computer, and a communication antenna, keeping the design as compact as possible. The SSMD will support future crewed Mars missions and will be deployed to map the surrounding area for any anomalies or points of interest (POI). To efficiently fly on Mars, the drone will use 4 carbon fiber propellors, each with a diameter of approximately 1.5 meters. The large propellor size, combined with lightweight, carbon fiber material, will maximize lift, while also lowering the overall mass of the drone. Additionally, the SSMD will improve mapping capabilities, travelling further and faster than previously used rovers. Overall, it will increase the safety of crewed missions to Mars by allowing for the scouting of specific areas prior to any extra vehicular activities on the surface.