Orbiters, landers and rovers have been exploring Mars for more than 20 years. They may someday be joined by a very different kind of explorer—one inspired by the insects in our backyards.
NASA is funding a study on the feasibility of deploying small flying drones, nicknamed “Marsbees,” in the Martian atmosphere. The project is a collaboration between researchers at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and their colleagues in Japan.
Each machine, which is about the size of a bumblebee and has wings the size of a cicada’s, would carry various cameras and sensors to measure and analyze the Mar’s surface. Using insect-like wings would enhance aerodynamics and require very little power. Preliminary modeling suggests that a robot the size of an insect could generate sufficient lift to hover in the Martian atmosphere. Because the gravity on Mars is only about 38 percent that of the Earth’s, not much energy would be needed for the drones to remain in flight.
The battery-powered robots would deploy from a rover, which would serve as a recharging base and main communication center.
The robots’ smaller volume would make it easier for them to be transported to Mars Additionally, their small size allows for flexible deployment once they arrive on the planet’s surface. The swarm would also be more resilient to system failures occurring in individual robots, as well as allow for easier confirmation and validation of the findings provided by individual machines. And, as miniature sensor and battery technologies improve, the capabilities of these robots could expand.
The hope is that the Marsbees will be able to provide precise measurements of the pressure, temperature and chemical composition of Mars. A swarm of Marsbees could also enhance the work of conventional robots like the famous Spirit and Opportunity rovers. “Each Marsbee would carry an integrated video camera, and the swarm could construct a 3D topographic map of the local surface for rover path planning,” Chang-kwon Kang, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and one of the researchers working on the project.
The Marsbee project is still in its infancy. Researchers in Alabama are using computer simulations to determine a robot design that would function optimally in the Martian atmosphere. The Japanese team will develop and test those robot designs in a vacuum chamber with reduced air density to match the conditions on Mars.
These insect-like robots have the potential to substantially innovate the way we study Mars—and may help researchers on Earth unlock more of the planet’s secrets.
Read more about the ongoing exploration of Mars at NASA Returns to Mars with New InSight Lander.