Design of NASA Robotic MARS Helicopter Using Matlab Simulink

This example shows how to use Simscape™ Electrical™ to model a helicopter with coaxial rotors suitable to fly on Mars.

This helicopter takes inspiration from Ingenuity, the robotic helicopter developed by NASA, which accomplished the first powered flight on another planet.

References:
https://in.mathworks.com/help/physmod/sps/ug/mars-helicopter-system.html?s_eid=psm_ml&source=15308

Withrow, S., Johnson, W., Young, L. A., Cummings, H., Balaram, J., & Tzanetos, T. (2020). “An Advanced Mars Helicopter Design”. ASCEND 2020. doi:10.2514/6.2020-4028 

Pipenberg, B. T., Keennon, M., Tyler, J., Hibbs, B., Langberg, S., Balaram, J. (Bob), Pempejian, J. (2019). “Design and Fabrication of the Mars Helicopter Rotor, Airframe, and Landing Gear Systems”. AIAA Scitech 2019 Forum. doi:10.2514/6.2019-0620

Balaram, B., Canham, T., Duncan, C., Grip, H. F., Johnson, W., Maki, J., Zhu, D. (2018). “Mars Helicopter Technology Demonstrator”. 2018 AIAA Atmospheric Flight Mechanics Conference. doi:10.2514/6.2018-0023

Contents
Introduction – MARS Helicopter Technology
Introduction - Mars Helicopter System-Level Design
Simulink Model – NASA Robotic MARS Helicopter
Model Overview & Battery Pack Variant
Flight Control System & Command Dashboard subsystem
Simulation & Result Analysis:
Altitude and Battery Cell Temperatures
Flight Duration Vs Number of Battery Cells

Introduction – MARS Helicopter Technology

The Mars Helicopter is an autonomous 1.8 kg co-axial, counter-rotating rotorcraft baselined to fly on the Mars 2020 mission to demonstrate aerial mobility on the surface of Mars.

The rotor system consisting of the rotor blades, hub mechanism, propulsion motors, swashplates and linkages, control servos, and primary helicopter structure.

The landing gear system consisting of 4 deployable legs, landing feet, and suspension mechanisms.

Auxiliary structures, including the structural elements of the Helicopter Warm Electronics Box (HWEB) that encloses the electronic core module (ECM) and battery, and the solar array substrate that serves as the structural element of the solar panel system.

The solar array located above the blades is used to recharge the helicopter batteries during the day to provide power for flight operations and overnight thermal survival.

This example shows how to use Simscape™ Electrical™ to model a helicopter with coaxial rotors suitable to fly on Mars.

This helicopter takes inspiration from Ingenuity, the robotic helicopter developed by NASA, which accomplished the first powered flight on another planet.

To control the helicopter altitude interactively, can use the blocks in the Command Dashboard subsystem.

The helicopter model comprises
Solar Panel,
Battery Pack,
Heater,
Motor & Drive,
Two gearboxes
Two contra-rotating coaxial rotors,
1D mechanical model of the gravity, drag, mass, and ground contact forces.

Click here to download the model:
2021a version:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M8IaiPS18JpqkPC8Qe4U7P4x1x_j4Q4c/view?usp=sharing

021b version
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Lox1X363nFNrMaLXKTghBR7X4LhpONfu/view?usp=sharing