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While the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) only logged a total of one minute of flight time at an altitude of 2 inches above the ground, the scientists were able t

by ptha 8y ago

While the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) only logged a total of one minute of flight time at an altitude of 2 inches above the ground, the scientists were able to get the data they need to be able to say that it will work on Mars. "The next time we fly, we fly on Mars," project manager MiMi Aung said. I realise it's just a concept test for future missions, but this doesn't seem like a particularly rigorous test. I assume they are they under a lot of time pressure.

jvanderbot 8y ago
They (endgaget) were treating that test as the first and last proof. In reality, that project has been full-speed-ahead with flight tests for a while. The difference is more like that this is the first untethered, full-flight-system, full-environment test. The data from which is compared to the huge batch previous tests with partial systems, w/ and w/o gravity offloads, etc etc. Logging a lot of flight time with the actual hardware is a really bad idea, sort of like "testing in production."
- dontbenebby 8y ago
  >Logging a lot of flight time with the actual hardware is a really bad idea, sort of like "testing in production." That's a fascinating fact. A lot of work must have gone into a testing environment that can do so much of the work via simulation.
- coldtea 8y ago
  >Logging a lot of flight time with the actual hardware is a really bad idea, sort of like "testing in production." We test in staging environments set to mimic production 100% (or as close as possible) all the time. After an initial period where they're under development, un-maned aerial vehicles should obviously be tested a hell of a lot in actual end environment, with their whole actual hardware, too.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
coldtea 8y ago
>I realise it's just a concept test for future missions, but this doesn't seem like a particularly rigorous test. It worked for Boeing.
daniel-cussen 8y ago
I buy it. While the helicopter technology isn't currently developed by enough to do a flashy demonstration on Earth, the telemetry is developed enough to guarantee it will work on Mars with only that minimal test.

by ptha 8y ago

jvanderbot 8y ago

They (endgaget) were treating that test as the first and last proof. In reality, that project has been full-speed-ahead with flight tests for a while. The difference is more like that this is the first untethered, full-flight-system, full-environment test. The data from which is compared to the huge batch previous tests with partial systems, w/ and w/o gravity offloads, etc etc. Logging a lot of flight time with the actual hardware is a really bad idea, sort of like "testing in production."

dontbenebby 8y ago
>Logging a lot of flight time with the actual hardware is a really bad idea, sort of like "testing in production." That's a fascinating fact. A lot of work must have gone into a testing environment that can do so much of the work via simulation.
coldtea 8y ago
>Logging a lot of flight time with the actual hardware is a really bad idea, sort of like "testing in production." We test in staging environments set to mimic production 100% (or as close as possible) all the time. After an initial period where they're under development, un-maned aerial vehicles should obviously be tested a hell of a lot in actual end environment, with their whole actual hardware, too.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]

coldtea 8y ago

>I realise it's just a concept test for future missions, but this doesn't seem like a particularly rigorous test. It worked for Boeing.

daniel-cussen 8y ago

I buy it. While the helicopter technology isn't currently developed by enough to do a flashy demonstration on Earth, the telemetry is developed enough to guarantee it will work on Mars with only that minimal test.