Design Overview

The team selected a conventional high-wing, high-aspect-ratio taildragger configuration after evaluating multiple aircraft concepts including tandem-wing, twin-fuselage, three-surface, and VTOL designs. This configuration offered the best balance of aerodynamic efficiency, stability, manufacturability, payload accessibility, and available surface area for solar panel integration.

Our aircraft is designed around several key requirements:

• Solar-assisted electric propulsion

• Real-time flight telemetry

• GPS navigation

• Onboard camera systems

• Extended flight endurance

• Transportability in a standard truck bed

• Ease of maintenance and system access

Aerodynamics & Airframe

Designing for Efficiency

The Aerodynamics Subteam focused on maximizing lift-to-drag ratio while creating large, sun-facing surfaces capable of housing solar panels. A high-aspect-ratio wing was selected to reduce induced drag and improve endurance performance.

The team evaluated multiple airfoil candidates and ultimately selected the S7055 airfoil due to:

• High aerodynamic efficiency

• Gentle stall characteristics

• Flat lower surface geometry

• Compatibility with solar panel mounting requirements

Structural Design

The airframe uses:

• Laser-cut balsa ribs

• Carbon fiber spars

• Lightweight stringers

• MonoKote covering

These materials allow the structure to remain lightweight while supporting flight loads and solar panel integration. Finite element analysis and vibration studies were performed to validate spar sizing and tail boom stiffness before manufacturing.

Engineering Tools

The team relied heavily on:

• SolidWorks CAD

• SolidWorks FEA

• ANSYS Fluent CFD

• Parametric wing design techniques

These tools helped optimize wing geometry, structural members, control surfaces, and overall aircraft performance prior to manufacturing.

Propulsion & Solar Power

Hybrid Solar-Electric Architecture

The propulsion system combines onboard batteries with wing-mounted solar arrays to reduce battery load during flight. The goal is to achieve flight times at least 10% longer than battery-only operation through solar energy contribution.

Power Generation

Solar panels integrated into the wings continuously generate electrical power during flight. Testing and analysis indicate that approximately 110 W of usable solar power may be available under favorable conditions, significantly reducing cruise power demand.

Propulsion System

The aircraft utilizes:

• E-flite Power 46 670Kv motor

• 14×10 propeller

• Dual ESC architecture

• Solar-assisted battery system

The propulsion architecture was selected to provide sufficient thrust for takeoff while maintaining efficient cruise performance.

Flight Control & Autonomy

The propulsion and avionics system incorporates:

• Pixhawk flight controller

• ArduPilot ecosystem

• GPS navigation

• Telemetry transmission

• Autonomous mission capability

• Camera integration

Future implementation of thermal sensing and onboard computer vision is being explored using Raspberry Pi based systems.

Fuselage & Systems Integration

Lightweight Structural Design

The fuselage is built using a balsa semi-monocoque structure, chosen for its balance of:

• Low weight

• Structural stiffness

• Manufacturability

• Internal packaging efficiency

• Accessibility for maintenance

Packaging the Aircraft

The fuselage houses:

• Batteries

• ESCs

• MPPT electronics

• GPS systems

• Radio receiver

• Camera systems

• Raspberry Pi

• Payload equipment

• Wiring infrastructure

Particular attention was given to center-of-gravity management, serviceability, and airflow for cooling sensitive electronics. The fuselage was also designed to accommodate future system upgrades without requiring a complete redesign.

Structural Verification

Landing gear mounts, wing interface structures, and critical load-bearing regions were analyzed using finite element methods to verify their ability to withstand operational and landing loads.

Next Steps (Fall 2026)

This fall, we intend to finish installing the electronics, wrap up the aircraft (Literally, It's wrapped in plastic!), and conduct a test flight. We'll post updates on Instagram when we fly!

At the same time, a lot of the team will be working on research and design for a new aircraft this year.