Research
Goal
- Design and build a cheap, light and portable UAV with fewer number of components compared to a Quadrotor.
- Design a tail mechanism to stabilize yaw that can be reused later for a VTOL design.
Results
- Flight time: ~25 min.
- Stable yaw control.
- UAV parts were 3D printed for under 50 CAD.
- UAV can be folded and packed.
Build time end to end: 2 months.
Goal
- Design and 3D print a lightweight and shock resistant Quadrotor.
- Design a UAV that serves as a platform for the development of autonomous aerial applications.
Results
- The Quadrotor was 3D printed using Carbon-Fiber-reinforced-Nylon filament. Its low density allowed the drone to be highly impact resistant as I could verify on multiple crash tests.
- ROS scripts were developed and successfully controled the UAV for takeoff, waypoint and landing missions.
Build time end to end: 1.5 months.
Goal
- Use Topology Optimization to design a lightweight frame that can be easily converted from Octorotor to Quadrotor depending on the mission.
- The Octorotor should be able to lift a maximum takeoff weight of 25kg.
Results
- The final design of the Quadrotor is 0.4 kg less than the DJI Matrice 200 drone and the Octorotor is 0.8kg less than the DJI Agras MG-1, which are comparable drones in the industry.
- Finite element analysis shows that the safety factor of the octorotor is 1.42 with the maximum load of 25 kg, which matches the NASA recommended safety factor for aerial vehicles.
- The design shows that the UAV can easily be converted from Octorotor to Quadrotor by removing its arms.
Design Time: 3 months.
MORPHING DRONE
- Assemble the prototype.
- Test the functionality of both configurations: Octorotor and Quadrotor.
AUTONOMY
- Develop AI based precision landing.
- Build a robust collision avoidance system
VOTL UAV
- Design a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAV.
- Improve its flight time by using hydrogen fuel cells.
