induction charging, isnt that really inefficient? might have just been easier to throw on the solar panel. Otherwise there is always the risk of damage when it lands on the rover over and over.
I don't think charging efficiency or charging time matters much, as the helicopter won't be flying frequently. It has lots of time to recharge through the less efficient wireless method. Sticking a solar panel on the helicopter – as NASA has done to its Mars helicopter – probably presents a different set of compromises: the extra weight of the solar panels might mean a smaller battery and therefore less endurance, not to mention a smaller payload capacity for useful instruments. As for the risk of damaging the rover, we'll have to withhold judgement until we see the design of the future rover and what kinds of special accommodations it will have for the helicopter, but I doubt the small helicopter can damage the rover in a significant way.
Is the endurance time of 3 minutes enough for the Mars Helicopter to do some useful work?
Any info on how much is NASA's endurance time?
Three minutes fly time is quite decent. The helicopter can travel up to 300 meters per minute, so a two-way straight line trip can
theoretically cover 450 meters. Of course, in an area survey, it won't cover as much distance, but it should still be able to survey an area far larger than what the rover can traverse in days or weeks. You have to remember that these rovers on average travel very slowly to prevent wear and tear, and they stop frequently to examine interesting surface features, not to mention their long periods of hibernation. For example, it took the Curiosity 8 years to cover a distance of 14 miles. So the endurance is fine. I bring up the rover because the Chinese helicopter is intended to be a guide for the rover by searching ahead for points of interest.
P.S. NASA's
was designed to fly up to 90 seconds and can cover a distance of 300 meters.