4 ms·
Yeah rotor tip speed is Mach .7 lol Here it is running in test chamber at mars equivalent atmospheric density - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMCJGfwj3rY htt
by jcims 7y ago
Yeah rotor tip speed is Mach .7 lol
Here it is running in test chamber at mars equivalent atmospheric density - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMCJGfwj3rY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMCJGfwj3rY
- JumpCrisscross 7y ago> Yeah rotor tip speed is Mach .7 The thin atmosphere cuts both ways. It generates less lift. But it inflicts less drag.
- parsimo2010 7y agoIt also lowers the speed of sound. This poses some design limitations and since traditionally designed rotors get less efficient near Mach 1- they still work, but not as well. So you have to spin the rotors fast to generate enough lift, but you want to keep them slow so the tips don't go supersonic. Helicopters/drones on Mars are a tough design problem in areas beyond just the atmospheric- you can't use a gas engine because you can't refuel it, recharging a battery with solar energy takes forever because there is less solar radiation. You can't replace the rotors if you crash, so you need to make it robust, but you can't make it too heavy. On and on...
- m_samuel_l 7y agoMaybe a balloon to provide most of the lift, then attach a few electric props? And if you have access to ice, maybe we can use solar panel to electrolise it into fuel.
- winter_blue 7y agoWhat about solar-powered aircraft? Would they work in Mars' atmosphere?
- Steel_Phoenix 7y agoI'd like to see it tested in mars equivalent dust. I assume that the higher speed will correspond with more wear from sand blasting.