Senior Design Project - Stevens Institute of Technology 2022
Senior Mechanical Engineering Major
Senior Computer Engineering Major
Senior Mechanical Engineering Major
Senior Computer Engineering Major
Senior Mechanical Engineering Major
Project Advisor, Mechanical Engineering Department
Drones, both manually piloted and autonomous, have become a massive industry and are used everywhere from Hollywood and hobbyists to military, humanitarian, and scientific applications. The primary limitations on current drones include their payload capacities, operational range, pilot skill, and requirements of launch/recovery positions. This work documents the design and development of an autonomous payload-capable drone that can take off from a single-use underwater capsule. The capsule can be secured underwater at a designated location and, on command, float to the surface and open. The drone will then take off from the surface of the water, deliver a payload, and land at an alternate location. This system can have significant advantages for military/intelligence operations, humanitarian aid missions, and scientific research. Deploying an autonomous drone this way improves security, reliability, accessibility, and response time.
Watertight capsule as compact as possible
Surface automatically
Release drone
Deliver payload
Land autonomously
Our final prototype consists of a capsule and drone that work in combination to complete a unique mission:
First, our watertight capsule is secured underwater for days at a time
When released, it floats upwards and a water sensor detects when it surfaces
This activates the opening mechanism seen below, revealing our custom aerial quadcopter drone
When ready, the drone powers on and takes off autonomously. It can then fly to a preset location and release its payload or be piloted manually