US-based drone company Skypersonic, which in 2021 entered into a five-year contract with NASA to provide drone and rover hardware, software and support to the space agency's simulated Mars mission, has successfully completed testing on Mount Etna, an active volcano in Sicily where the landscape is similar to Martian geology.
Skycopter. Credit: Skypersonic
The Skycopter. Credit: Skypersonic
Skypersonic says that the 15-day test demonstrates how its Skycopter drone can be piloted virtually anywhere, from virtually anywhere.
Using Skypersonic’s Long Range Real-Time Remote Piloting System, the drone and rover on Mount Etna were controlled by personnel in Houston, Texas, in real-time.
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While most drones cannot be piloted without connecting to the GPS network, Skycopter uses technology that is able to control and track the drone in locations – such as Mars – where GPS is not available.
"This was a gruelling test that we passed with flying colours. We look forward to the ultimate test – on Earth, at least – when our technology will be used during NASA’s upcoming yearlong simulated Mars mission. We are confident of also passing this test," said Skypersonic CEO Giuseppe Santangelo
"During the simulated Mars mission, four crew members living and working in a 1,700-square-foot module on Earth, called Mars Dune Alpha, will carry out a series of missions – including remotely guided exploration and collection of specimens from rugged terrain elsewhere on Earth, up to thousands of miles away."
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The test results on the volcano included sample collections made by the rover - an essential capability for robotic exploration of Mars.
The project was a collaboration between Skypersonic, the University of Turin and Etna Park.
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