A Rover is an autonomous vehicle that can move on the Martian surface.  However, the surface of Mars is littered with rocks, mountains, and craters.  Some of these areas could be risky or even dangerous for the Rover to move into.  For e.g., if the Rover falls into a ditch or a crater and turns turtle, it may not be possible to flip itself back to stand up again.  Or, it may not be able to get out of the ditch in which it fell.  The Rover can also get stuck between rocks, or may get damaged while moving.  In such cases, it helps to have a flying machine that can fly over the Martian surface and identify suitable spots for the rover to visit (and routes to take) for conducting scientific experiments.  This is where a helicopter can come in handy.

The atmospheric density on Mars is much lesser than that of Earth that makes it far difficult to fly a heavier-than-air vehicle on the Red Planet.  

Ingenuity's mission is experimental in nature and completely independent of the rover’s science mission. In the months after landing, the helicopter was placed on the surface to test – for the first time ever – powered flight in the thin Martian air.  So far, Ingenuity has successfully undertaken 12 flights on Mars. 

Ingenuity's performance during these experimental test flights will help inform decisions relating to considering small helicopters for future Mars missions, where they could perform in a support role as robotic scouts, surveying terrain from above, or as full standalone science craft carrying instrument payloads. Taking to the air would give scientists a new perspective on a region’s geology and even allow them to peer into areas that are too steep or slippery to send a rover. In the distant future, they might even help astronauts explore Mars.

Watch the below videos to learn more about "Ingenuity", the first helicopter to fly on Mars.

The objectives of sending a helicopter to Mars are to:

• Prove powered flight in the thin atmosphere of Mars. The Red Planet has lower gravity (about one-third that of Earth) but its atmosphere is just 1% as thick (i.e., the air is very thin), making it much harder to generate lift. 

• Demonstrate miniaturized flying technology. This requires shrinking down onboard computers, electronics, and other parts so that the helicopter is light enough to take off. 

• Operate autonomously. Ingenuity will use solar power to charge its batteries and rely on internal heaters to maintain operational temperatures during the cold Martian nights.  After receiving commands from Earth relayed through the rover, each test flight is performed without real-time input from Mars Helicopter mission controllers. 

NASA flew the Ingenuity helicopter on the Red Planet for the first time on 19th April 2021.   So far, Ingenuity has undertaken 12 flights. Watch the video of its first flight below.

Ingenuity, the first helicopter flown by NASA has taken many photos of the Martian surface during its first 12 flights.  Check out a few of them below...

Below, you will find two types of activities:

1. Digital Activity

2. Physical Activity

You can use the knowledge acquired in this module to complete and submit either a digital activity, or a physical activity or both.  The choice is yours, but submitting at least one activity per module is important to receive participation certificate at the end of the bootcamp.

Complete ANY ONE of the below activities using a digital or AI tool of your choice:

• Develop a 3D Model of the Mars Helicopter "Ingenuity".

• Develop a game that allows you to fly the Mars Helicopter and take aerial photos of the surrounding Martian terrain.  You score more points for keeping the helicopter in the Martian air for longer, for taking more photos, and for safely landing the helicopter on a flat surface.  You lose points if the helicopter crash lands, or falls into a crater.  Click here for an example.

• Create a quiz, mobile app, eBook, Chatbot, Alexa Quiz to provide information and tidbits on the Mars Helicopter Ingenuity.

Customize or enhance the above activities further as per your interest and bandwidth.

If you need guidance in using AI-based digital tools, please click here.

Submitting your Digital Activity: Click the "Submit Activity" button at the bottom of this page to submit your digital activity.  In the submission form, paste the link to your digital creation directly from the online tool, or paste the link to your digital creation from your Google Drive folder.  Ensure that the link has "public access" or "Anyone with the link can view".

Submitting your Physical Activity: Take a photo or video clip of your physical prototype or model and upload it to your Google Drive folder.  Click the "Submit Activity" button at the bottom of this page to submit your physical activity.  In the activity submission form, paste the link to the photo or video uploaded on your Google Drive folder. Ensure that the link has "public access" or "Anyone with the link can view".