Cooperative Aerial and Ground Vehicle Recharging System for Martian Exploration

Ingenuity Mars helicopter is history’s first aircraft to operate from the surface of another planet. It will support a ground rover’s exploration of the Jezero Crater to search for signs of ancient microbial life on Mars. The helicopter's battery has to be reserved to keep equipment within allowable temperature during cold Mars nights. The helicopter is not able to recharge from the MMRTG on the rover. Hence, the helicopter has to take off at a specific time frame in the day to avoid risk of losing reserve battery. This significantly limits the exploration flights of this aerial vehicle. To solve this problem, we will research on an effective way to wirelessly transfer the power between a ground rover and an aerial vehicle. Our proposed cooperation system, consisting of ground and aerial vehicles, will work collaboratively to extend the exploration task duration of the aerial vehicle.