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ESA Shows Off Quadcopter Landing Concept For Mars Rovers

Posted by samzenpus on from the drop-that-anywhere dept.

coondoggie writes Taking a page from NASA's rocket powered landing craft from its most recent Mars landing mission, the European Space Agency is showing off a quadcopter that the organization says can steer itself to smoothly lower a rover onto a safe patch of the rocky Martian surface. The ESA said its dropship, known as the StarTiger's Dropter is indeed a customized quadcopter drone that uses a GPS, camera and inertial systems to fly into position, where it then switches to vision-based navigation supplemented by a laser range-finder and barometer to lower and land a rover autonomously.

4 of 104 comments (clear)

  1. GPS on Mars by AF_Cheddar_Head · · Score: 4, Funny

    Really, are you sure it isn't Galileo?

    1. Re:GPS on Mars by frovingslosh · · Score: 4, Funny

      a customized quadcopter drone that uses a GPS, camera and inertial systems to fly into position .....

      Yup, hate to break it to you rocket scientists at NASA, but there is a slight flaw in this design for use on Mars.

      --
      I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
  2. European Probes by TechyImmigrant · · Score: 3, Funny

    Being a European probe, once landed it will open a small cafe serving croissants and excellent espresso.

    --
    I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
    1. Re:European Probes by Nutria · · Score: 4, Funny

      Being a European probe, once landed it will ...

      Moan and bitch about Spirit & Opportunity spying on it, while in turn spying on economically valuable sectors of Spirit & Opportunity.

      --
      "I don't know, therefore Aliens" Wafflebox1