GRASS - Hopper
Currently, the control department at Atlas is working on the GRASS-Hopper in collaboration with the GRASS department and with support from members of Ares.
GRASS-Hopper is the drone that will take part in the ERC 2025 alongside the rover, in an aerial reconnaissance mission simulating the Martian environment.
The objective of the drone is to take off from a specific point, locate the designated landing zone, and return to the ground — all in a fully autonomous manner.
Additionally, as a secondary mission, the drone must be capable of detecting and identifying the location of objects on the ground during its flight.
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To carry out this mission, the drone is equipped with multiple cameras and sensors that allow it to navigate within the area without the need for GPS.
To facilitate development, a realistic simulation of the drone has also been created in Gazebo, making it easier to implement and test modifications.