Review of Key Technologies of Rotary-Wing Mars UAVs for Mars Exploration
Pengyue Zhao, Ruihan Li, Peng Wu, Huan Liu, Xifeng Gao, Zongquan Deng
Abstract
The sparse atmosphere on the surface of Mars provides the necessary flight conditions for Mars unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to perform low-altitude flights. This work presents a comprehensive overview of key technologies in the development of Mars UAVs, with a specific focus on rotary-wing Mars UAVs. It summarizes prototypes of rotary-wing Mars UAVs developed by various global research institutions. It reviews essential technologies in rotary-wing Mars UAV research, including the Mars near-surface atmospheric environment, aerodynamic characteristics, and principles of low-pressure flight control. This work also summarizes various experimental setups and ground test results for rotary-wing Mars UAVs. Furthermore, it discusses the future development trends of rotary-wing Mars UAVs.