NASA researchers are developing new rotorcraft blade designs to extend the flight range of future Mars helicopters. The project utilizes high-fidelity computer simulations and wind tunnel testing to optimize aerodynamic performance in the thin Martian atmosphere.
The new airfoil, designated roamx-0201, was developed by NASA’s Ames Research Center in collaboration with Imperial College London and Nagoya University. The design features a thinner, asymmetrical shape that improves lift and stall behavior compared to the blades used on the Ingenuity helicopter.
Simulations indicate that the roamx-0201 design could increase the distance of a single uninterrupted flight from the 0.7 kilometers achieved by Ingenuity to as much as 18.7 kilometers. These findings were detailed in a paper published on September 22 in the journal of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
The new blades operate more efficiently by delaying drag divergence, a condition where performance drops as rotors approach the speed of sound. Additionally, the design uses controlled turbulence at the leading edge to enhance lift and maintains stability across a wider range of flight angles.
