Developing the design

During the build phase of our drone prototype, our team integrated the core flight and AI systems into a lightweight, functional design. A key change was optimizing the drone body by switching to a 3D-printed carbon nylon frame to reduce weight while supporting all components, including four motors, a stack (containing both a flight controller and an ESC), and a battery.

We mounted a Raspberry Pi 4B paired with a Pi AI camera for real-time object detection, using a ribbon strip and integrated Walk Snail GPS for navigation and positioning. We also had to tweak power distribution and component layout to maintain flight balance and stability.

This phase was critical in translating our concept into a working prototype, allowing us to test flight dynamics, component integration, and onboard AI functionality. It laid the foundation for refining detection accuracy, stability, and future software enhancements.