The Ingenuity helicopter got its new software. And Perseverance-rover found an organic-looking chemical compound from Mars.

NASA:s Ingenuity helicopter can use to research how to navigate without the GPS. 

The Ingenuity helicopter flies over Mars, and one of the problems with this kind of system is simple: how to navigate without the GPS? There are many possibilities for how to replace traditional GPS by using some other systems. One system what that robot helicopter can use in that kind of operation is TAINS (Terrair contour matching and Aided Intertial navigation system). The camera in the helicopter takes images from its route. 

And when the helicopter needs to return. The computer compiles images that the helicopter takes with new images. The camera sends that data to the flight-control computer. The inertial or gyroscope navigation can support return. 

The gyroscope can record the entire flight route and then the helicopter must just drive that route backward. The TAINS system is a combination of TERCOM (Terrain contour matching) and gyroscope navigation. This kind of navigation system is used in cruise missiles, but it also can use in other aerial vehicles. 

Things like robot recon planes can also use the TAINS system. The recon plane can fly a certain route. And its digital cameras store the entire mission. Also, the TAINS system can control unmanned attack aircraft. The point where the navigation system orders the drone or cruise missile to dive into the target can program that way. The aircraft releases a smart weapon at that point. 

But there is another way to locate objects and navigate by using satellites than some regular GPS systems. The robot or manned vehicle can send the laser ray to the photo-recon satellite. 

The photo-recon satellite will see the location of the laser pointer from the image. The AI or human operator can plan the route for the robot helicopter. Or drive the helicopter to the wanted position by using the remote control. The helicopter can search for interesting points for the Mars-rovers. 

Robot helicopters can use laser spectrometers in larger areas than robot cars. The helicopter can also use its laser as the laser drill. And land at the wanted position and then take samples from deeper than just the surface.

Perseverance-Rover found possible organic molecules from one crater on Mars.  

 

New findings from planet Mars are making this kind of combination interesting.  The Perseverance rover found organic-looking chemical compounds in one single crater. These kinds of findings are very interesting things. And if those organic chemical compounds are truly organic they should be found all over the Red planet. If the organic-based material is found only in one or two single areas and if there are some fossils. 

Or maybe, sleeping bacteria that are not from Earth. That thing opens new roads for cosmology. And search for extraterrestrial life forms. If there are Mars-based bacteria only in Valles Marineris canyon. That proves that extraterrestrial lifeforms can be very local. And even if the planet seems hostile there could be places where life is possible. 

But there is one interesting thing. If those bacteria are from Earth, what carried them to Mars? Or what if the bacteria fossils were found in only one crater? There is a needed DNA (RNA) or genome sample to confirm that the pill-looking structures are remnants of the bacteria. And there is the possibility that the UV radiation terminated the genome and internal structure of those proto-bacteria remnants. 

https://scitechdaily.com/nasas-ingenuity-mars-helicopter-completes-first-flight-with-new-navigation-software/

https://scitechdaily.com/nasas-perseverance-rover-discovers-possible-organic-compounds-in-mars-crater-rocks/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TERCOM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valles_Marineris

https://astronomyandtechnology.blogspot.com/

Jamming the GPS is not as easy as people think.

Russians are told that they can jam the GPS. The war in Ukraine has shown that jamming the GPS is not as easy as people think. The communication between GPS and satellite happens with multi-channel radios. So the system uses multiple frequencies at the same time. 

That's why jamming the GPS is more difficult than people expect. The data security of those systems is very important. And maybe NATO uses different GPS in exercise than in real situations. That makes jamming of those systems extremely difficult. 

When people are looking at the Russian sea-launch missiles they are not very accurate. There is the possibility that small drones or special warfare teams are taking the radar transponders to targets. That thing makes targets seem brighter on the radar of the missile. And people expected Russians have those transponders. That thing can give the radar-homing missile higher accuracy. But Russians seem to have not those transponders. 

The problem with HiMARS and other precision-guided weapons is that if Russians get one of them. They can find out those frequencies. Another thing is that Ukraine will not maybe need anything more than 20-50 HiMARS launchers. People always asked, why Ukraine would not get let's say about 300 HiMARS? Have you ever known about the apportioning of firepower? 

That means the firepower would be limited to the necessary level. The GPS tells the precise point of the HiMARS to the deliverer of the system. But there is always the possibility that some Ukrainian criminals try to sell those weapons to Russians. Those weapons cannot use against Ukrainians or NATO. But they can give information about what the Russians need to break the GPS. 

The answer is there is always the possibility. Those Russians capture those systems. Another fact about the HiMARS is that weapon manufacturers are making more of them if there is a need for those systems. When we are talking about the HiMARS and other types of weapons we must realize that the U.S stockpile of those systems is not public information. 

And there is always the possibility that some Wikipedia data about those systems is wrong. Another thing is that the only allowed sources for comments on the war are public data. Uncovering classified information can cause big problems for national security. So Wikipedia and some FAS.Org type pages are allowed sources. The classified and top secret files are not public sources. They are not also allowed to use in commentations. The links below this text are going to news that is in Finnish. 

https://www.msn.com/fi-fi/uutiset/other/himars-iskee-kuin-kirurgi-skalpellilla-miksi-ihmeess%C3%A4-usa-on-antanut-raketinheittimi%C3%A4-ukrainalle-niin-v%C3%A4h%C3%A4n/ar-AA101Hz9?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=71f4ac856913452195d799604307c6c0

https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/venaja-julisti-ennen-sotaa-pystyvansa-sokeuttamaan-lansimaiden-gps-kaluston-vaisu-lopputulos-kiteytyy-tahan-kuvaan/8476944

Image: https://spaceflightnow.com/2014/12/18/newest-gps-satellite-goes-active/

Loitering munitions or kamikaze drones are effective weapons that cause high risk if they get into the wrong hands.

The invasion of Ukraine is typical Russian military action. Long-range cruise missiles are used against civilian and military targets. The thing in the use of the cruise missiles is that the Glonass/GPS systems are effective only if the location of the target is well-known. And another thing is that the system should know all the time if the target is moving. In the western military. 

The problem with the Russian missiles is this: are they accurate enough to make pinpoint accurate attacks? So are they shot at civilian targets on purpose? And how well do their systems stand against high-power ECM (Electronic Counter Measure) jamming? 

The attacks are followed by high-flying recon planes or satellites. The problem is that if the target is moving. The missile should know that thing or it misses the hit. New missiles are so-called kamikaze drones. They are cruising above the battlefield. The official name of those systems is loitering drones. They can use against things like cruise missile batteries. 

Those drones are like Aquila target/recon drones that are equipped with anti-tank or some other type of warhead. The Aquila was the system of the 70s. And there are more advanced systems that are replacing it. But basically, they are all similar systems. 

Those kamikaze drones are transmitting data to the command center. And when the target is visible the controller will give an order to dive against that target which can be a ship or main battle tank. They are normal recon drones that are equipped with a warhead. 

The difference between a kamikaze drone and a cruise missile is minimal. The famous "Tomahawk" cruise missile is the only BQM-119 drone that is equipped with a conventional or nuclear warhead. But "kamikaze drones" can patrol above operational areas and transmit data and then make the attack against the target. 

The kamikaze drones that are using radio control are vulnerable to jamming. The EMP strikes can also drop those things. When we are talking about pinpoint accuracy there are two or three types of internal navigation systems. The GPS is needed to locate the beginning point of the flight of the missile. Then the inertial navigation will take the missile to a certain point of the flight route. 

The other way is to use TERCOM (Terrair contour matching)-system. The TERCOM means, that the system uses a series of images that are stored in the memory of the computers to fly to the target. In that system, satellite or high-flying recon plane will make the 3D topography map by using radar or lidar. And then the missile will use that data to find the route to its target. 

And finally, the image recognition system or ATR (Automatic Target Recognition) will select the target by using scene-matching technology. That system has the image of the target stored in its memory. And when the image that the camera transmits matches with the image that the missile will aim to target. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_target_recognition

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_MQM-105_Aquila

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loitering_munition

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TERCOM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomahawk_(missile)