In this guide we'll build an descent vehicle of the sort you might see on a documentary about JPL landing probes on Mars, though nothing so elaborate as the Sky Crane that was used for Curiosity's entry and landing. We'll use a Circuit Playground Express to control a couple small, lightweight servos to deploy wings that will slow it's fall.

What's cool about the Circuit Playground is it has an accelerometer built in, a sensor that can detect motion/movement/tilt. It has the ability to detect when it is in free-fall (gravity is an acceleration!) and when its still. This lets you deploy the wings automatically!

The device is simple and very much a proof of concept, but the idea can be used as inspiration to do something more elaborate. Hey, even JPL starts with a proof of concept!

This project uses MakeCode for the Circuit Playground Express. If you're not familiar with MakeCode, there's an introduction in the Circuit Playground Express guide.

Parts List

Tools and Supplies

• corrugated cardboard
• thin bamboo skewers
• plastic shopping or garbage bag
• hotglue and glue gun
• small zipties