Technologies and Their Integration for an Unmanned Aircraft for Mars Exploration
Abstract
The development of aircraft for Mars exploration highlights the critical importance of all-up system optimization for achieving a high-value mission. Requisite technologies for flight-deployed, autonomous unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) have been developed and refined during the past 25 years by the Naval Research Laboratory for a broad range of military and civilian applications. The research and development of these technologies provide a background of practical experience, design tools, and a heritage of over two dozen, flight-tested, unmanned aircraft designs. The application of this practical knowledge towards planetary exploration could enable the development of unmanned aircraft for the exploration of Mars that takes advantage of substantial Navy and DOD investment in UAVs, autonomous operations, and remote sensing.
- Publication:
-
Concepts and Approaches for Mars Exploration
- Pub Date:
- July 2000
- Bibcode:
- 2000came.work..113F
- Keywords:
-
- Mars Exploration;
- Pilotless Aircraft;
- Aircraft Design;
- Military Technology;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration