Simcenter Amesim: celebrating ingenuity’s last flight on Mars 1st Anniversary

Simcenter Amesim software, which allows engineers to virtually assess and optimize systems’ performance, can now be used to recreate the remarkable achievements of the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, nicknamed “Ginny”, which completed its last flight on the Martian surface a year ago. This mission significantly advanced our knowledge of powered and controlled flight on another planet, serving as a source of inspiration for engineers and space enthusiasts. As NASA Administrator Bill Nelson stated, Ingenuity’s journey represents a groundbreaking milestone in human exploration.

Ingenuity’s Groundbreaking Flights on Mars
When the Perseverance rover touched down on Mars in February 2021, it carried a small companion – the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter. This 4-pound (1.8 kg) robotic rotorcraft was the first powered, controlled aircraft to fly on another planet.
Over the course of its mission, Ingenuity far exceeded its original design specifications. Instead of the planned five test flights, Ingenuity went on to complete 72 flights, traveling over 17 kilometers (11 miles) and reaching altitudes of up to 24 meters (79 feet) 1. Ingenuity gained the ability to autonomously select landing sites in treacherous terrain. It also dealt with a malfunctioning sensor, cleaned itself after dust storms, operated from 48 different airfields, and performed three emergency landings. Remarkably, the helicopter even survived the harsh Martian winter.
However, the extreme cold of winter posed a significant challenge. Designed to operate during the milder spring season, Ingenuity was unable to power its heaters throughout the frigid Martian nights. This resulted in the flight computer periodically freezing and resetting, a phenomenon known as “power brownouts.” To address this issue, the Ingenuity team had to redesign the helicopter’s winter operations to keep it flying.
These flights provided invaluable data and demonstrated the viability of powered flight on Mars, paving the way for future aerial exploration.
Ingenuity’s final flight on January 18th, 2024 2 marked the end of its groundbreaking mission, but the legacy of this little helicopter lives on. Its success has inspired the development of even more ambitious aerial platforms for future Mars exploration.
Simulating Ingenuity’s Flights with Simcenter Amesim
To celebrate the anniversary of Ingenuity’s last flight, Siemens has developed a system simulation demonstrator that replicates the key aspects of the helicopter’s flight using Simcenter Amesim.

Simcenter Amesim is a powerful multiphysics simulation platform that allows engineers to model and analyze complex systems, including flight dynamics, energy management, guidance, navigation, and control of aerial vehicles like Ingenuity.
This demonstrator recreates the unique challenges of flying on Mars, including the planet’s thin atmosphere, low gravity, and extreme temperatures. By accurately modeling the physics of Ingenuity’s flight, the energy requirements of its systems, and the control algorithms that guided its movements, the demonstrator provides a realistic simulation of the helicopter’s remarkable achievements.
Through this simulation, users can explore the design trade-offs and engineering decisions that went into Ingenuity’s development, gaining a deeper understanding of the technical challenges overcome by the NASA team. Additionally, the demonstrator serves as a valuable tool for testing and validating new aerial platform concepts for future Mars exploration.
Experience the Thrill of Ingenuity’s Flights
To commemorate the anniversary of Ingenuity’s last flight, we invite you to experience the thrill of this historic achievement through our Simcenter Amesim-based system simulation demonstrator. Dive into the details of Ingenuity’s flight physics, energy management, guidance, navigation, and control, and see how this groundbreaking technology can be replicated and advanced using state-of-the-art simulation tools. The demonstrator can be accessed in the software by opening the built-in help feature. If you are not a Simcenter Amesim user, you can start your free trial now.
Simcenter Amesim software is part of the Simcenter simulation and test solutions that you can leverage today to drive productivity, achieve better designs faster, and ensure successful space program outcomes.
This is particularly crucial due to the increasing complexity of systems in every new generation of aircraft and spacecraft. As engineers strive to push boundaries and achieve innovation, they often encounter unexpected issues and face costly program delays. To address these challenges, a new approach is required, focusing on quicker and more cost-effective processes that not only uphold but also enhance performance and compliance. This entails driving digital transformation to gain a competitive advantage.