NASA writes software update for Ingenuity helicopter to enable first Mars flight
- Reference: 1618289984
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2021/04/13/ingenuity_mars_software_upgrade_needed/
- Source link:
The ‘copter was [1]scheduled to attempt flight on April 11th, but NASA delayed lift-off due to a rotor spin test ending early “due to a 'watchdog' timer expiration".
[2]
Now the space agency [3]says that problem can only be overcome by new software.
“The Ingenuity team has identified a software solution for the command sequence issue identified on Sol 49 (April 9) during a planned high-speed spin-up test of the helicopter’s rotors,” says NASA’s new statement.
[4]
Other options were considered, but it was decided that “minor modification and reinstallation of Ingenuity’s flight control software is the most robust path forward.”
“This software update will modify the process by which the two flight controllers boot up, allowing the hardware and software to safely transition to the flight state.”
NASA shows Mars that humans can drive a remote control space tank at .01 km/h [5]READ MORE
Devs will work on and test the software on Monday and Tuesday, but NASA warned “the process of validating it and completing its uplink to Ingenuity will take some time.”
Then comes testing – and waiting because Mars is currently 15 light-minutes from Earth.
“Our best estimate of a targeted flight date is fluid right now, but we are working toward achieving these milestones and will set a flight date next week,” says NASA’s update.
[6]
The agency’s post also reminds us all that Ingenuity is a technology demonstration, and therefore not a part of the mission expected to produce stellar results. The good news is that the ‘copter’s critical functions are all currently stable, so once new software is aboard there’s every reason to be optimistic given that Ingenuity’s parent craft, Perseverance, nailed its landing and has generally performed exceptionally well. ®
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[1] https://www.theregister.com/2021/04/09/ingenuity/
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YHVruyXe4xbWPDmEhRpzewAAAI8&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://mars.nasa.gov/technology/helicopter/status/290/work-progresses-toward-ingenuity-s-first-flight-on-mars/
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YHVruyXe4xbWPDmEhRpzewAAAI8&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2021/03/08/perserverance_first_mars_drive/
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YHVruyXe4xbWPDmEhRpzewAAAI8&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Be careful, folks!
If your watchdog keeps expiring before the system initialises to the point where it starts resetting the timer, you'll be stuck in a boot loop. Had the same problem on my BlueTooth CD changer impersonator.
But but. but... didn't they do any sort of testing before departure?
What is it that change en route? Is this software update to mitigate a mechanical fault? Or is it to compensate for unexpected parameters in the martian atmosphere?
They have new, more colourful icons
"They have new, more colourful icons"
And rounded corners.
Definitively a possible maybe, maybe not.
Surely you should be aware that modern software development practices preclude testing before releasing as 'Early Access', then fixing forwards as soon as issues are detected in the Production environment.
* I would add a Joke icon, but I'm no longer certain that this counts as humo(u)r, sarcasm, wit, or reality these days.
upon reflection
> didn't they do any sort of testing before departure?
I expect they scrupulously followed all the instructions in the Hubble Mirror Testing Manual
Nothing there...
Even they admit it, and they spent bazillions doing it.
Boeing
Is this more sotware written (and not tested) by boeing?
/JOKE
I have great respect for the NASA people, these things happen and I know they can fix it. Now if Boeing actually did write the software!
Look, it's important that they get things right, because all of the airspace around Gatwick will be closed down during the test flight (probably).
Applying patches .... please wait
> NASA will upload a "minor modification" of flight control software to the Ingenuity helicopter ahead of its first attempt at powered flight on Mars
Typical new toy experience. You get it out of the box, switch it on and the first thing it does is to download a software update.
I expect this project to stop as soon as Ingenuity reports back that the product registration failed due to an incorrect timezone being entered.
Adaptive learning
Many are asking "didn't they test the software before sending it?". Since NASA is not Boeing, I'm going to assume they did, but it also seems reasonable to assume that conditions on the ground 15 light minutes away may not be replicable with 100% exactitude. If the slight hiccup was caused by a local variable that could not have been replicated Earthside, then rewriting the software to factor in the new data would seem to me to be evidence of sensible engineering, not the opposite
Re: Adaptive learning
I would assume that the atmosphere is at the extreme of the expected density/pressure and the watchdog is set too tightly. When they "vacuum" chamber flight tested it (yes they did) the unit ran to speed in the time expected because their simulated atmosphere was a bit less dense than that actually encountered. Could even be that it's picking up a tiny bit more surface dust (whatever that's called on Mars, is it regolith?) than expected which could increase local air density significantly around the device and thus slow spin up ...
Guesses? Yes. But I did predict the thumper/borer/moley thing wouldn't work before it was launched so I have form ... :-)
Here’s hoping it doesn’t get bricked
An iPhone over-the-air bricking event is one thing; an autonomous extraterrestrial robotic helicopter bricking event is quite another!