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A team of students took their skills to new heights—literally—by designing, building and flight-testing a custom eight-motor drone similar in design to the C-21 Dragon Assault Ship from the movie Avatar.

The project, completed as part of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) course in the College of Aeronautics and Engineering taught by assistant professor Riu Lui, Ph.D. challenged students to create a novel multirotor platform from scratch.

“It is novel in design and electrical integration – complex, but I’m proud they made it,” Lui said. “It’s a great showcase of our college’s approach to hands-on education.”

Led by senior aerospace engineering major Tristan Spearry, the team included Matt Petkovich, Cole Thompson, Alix Hernandez, Brennan Suffoletta and Hyeokjin Kim—all students in various UAS or professional pilot programs.  The drone was designed with a strong focus on payload capacity and reliability—features vital for commercial and industrial applications.

“Our combined expertise played a crucial role in successfully completing the drone,” Spearry said. “My aerospace engineering background, coupled with the UAS experience of other team members, ensured the final system met both technical and operational objectives.”

Working under tight budget constraints, the team constructed a cost-effective frame with PVC pipes and plastic sheets. They also faced challenges with software configuration and motor synchronization, requiring hours of troubleshooting and expert consultation.

“Our goal was to strike an optimal balance between reliability and power,” said Spearry. “We wanted something functional and durable for commercial or industrial use.”

He added that the experience deepened the team’s interest in UAS technology and taught valuable lessons in teamwork, task delegation and design efficiency.

The team hopes future iterations of the drone can include composite materials, fully integrated GPS and upgraded electronics. But for now, the successful test flight stands as a testament to their creativity, collaboration and technical grit.