NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter—a small robotic helicopter operating on Mars— has been grounded due to the failure of an inclinometer. Subject device contains two accelerometers which measure gravitational forces prior to the vehicle’s rotor spin-up and takeoff process. Ingenuity’s navigation algorithms are predicated upon attitude data measured by the inclinometer. Ergo, the craft cannot fly until NASA devises alternate means by which to gauge attitude information.
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