Heavy Lift Drone
Heavy Lift Drone
Senior Capstone Project
Senior Capstone Project
September 2019 - June 2020
Embedded Files
Goal
Goal
The seven person team I was a part of was tasked with designing and constructing a drone capable of lifting 55 lbs on takeoff. The takeoff weight includes both the chassis and the payload. Its intended application is to capture IR images of crop fields in an agricultural setting.
The seven person team I was a part of was tasked with designing and constructing a drone capable of lifting 55 lbs on takeoff. The takeoff weight includes both the chassis and the payload. Its intended application is to capture IR images of crop fields in an agricultural setting.
The team was divided into four sub-teams: mechanical, aerospace, electrical, and software. I was a part of the electrical sub-team.
The team was divided into four sub-teams: mechanical, aerospace, electrical, and software. I was a part of the electrical sub-team.
The prototype above is what the team was able to achieve before COVID lockdowns prevented lab access and continued system testing.
The prototype above is what the team was able to achieve before COVID lockdowns prevented lab access and continued system testing.
The above picture shows the final 3D model of the dodecacopter created by the mechanical sub-team.
The above picture shows the final 3D model of the dodecacopter created by the mechanical sub-team.
My Role
My Role
I was in charge of designing, testing, and integrating the electrical subsystem. This included the propulsion assembly and the communication and control assembly.
I was in charge of designing, testing, and integrating the electrical subsystem. This included the propulsion assembly and the communication and control assembly.
Design
Design
Block diagram of the final dodecacopter system.
Block diagram of the final dodecacopter system.
Propulsion block diagram.
Propulsion block diagram.
Communication/Control block diagram.
Communication/Control block diagram.
Propulsion Assembly
Propulsion Assembly
Initial Proof of Concept
Initial Proof of Concept
Initially hobby-sized components were used while I waited for the actual components to be delivered. Issues in the design were easily fixed by building this scaled down version of the final subsystem.
Prototype Quadcopter
Prototype Quadcopter
Construction of a quadcopter served as a useful initial build since quadcopters are the most common type of multirotor. This made troubleshooting hardware issues easier and testing the control firmware on the flight controller more straight-forward.
Schematic of the propulsion assembly.
Schematic of the propulsion assembly.
Communication and Control Assembly
Communication and Control Assembly
Semi-Autonomous Flight Components
Semi-Autonomous Flight Components
Autonomous Flight Components
Autonomous Flight Components
Schematic of the communication and control assembly.
Schematic of the communication and control assembly.
Integration and Testing
Integration and Testing
The prototype quadcopter served as a proof of concept for the final dodecacopter. Successful hover tests validated the electrical subsystem's functionality and integration with the other subsystems.
The prototype quadcopter served as a proof of concept for the final dodecacopter. Successful hover tests validated the electrical subsystem's functionality and integration with the other subsystems.
Integration and Testing After COVID
Integration and Testing After COVID
The outbreak of COVID-19 caused the university and the Robotic Systems Lab(RSL) to close. Most materials in the lab were inaccessible which heavily impacted the project's development. The scope of the project changed along with the deliverable to accommodate restrictions to component and lab access.
The outbreak of COVID-19 caused the university and the Robotic Systems Lab(RSL) to close. Most materials in the lab were inaccessible which heavily impacted the project's development. The scope of the project changed along with the deliverable to accommodate restrictions to component and lab access.
Hexacopter Testing
Hexacopter Testing
I continued testing with the materials I had access to. I worked on six-motor control with a hobby-sized hexacopter.
I continued testing with the materials I had access to. I worked on six-motor control with a hobby-sized hexacopter.
Dodecacopter Prototype
Dodecacopter Prototype
This mechanical prototype was constructed with materials that were easily accessible during the COVID-19 pandemic by one of the mechanical sub-team members. This non-flying model served as a way to see how large the final drone would have been.
This mechanical prototype was constructed with materials that were easily accessible during the COVID-19 pandemic by one of the mechanical sub-team members. This non-flying model served as a way to see how large the final drone would have been.
Thesis
Thesis
Heavy_Lift_Drone_Thesis_FINAL.pdfPage updated
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