A team of students took their skills to new heights鈥攍iterally鈥攂y 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.
鈥淚t is novel in design and electrical integration 鈥 complex, but I鈥檓 proud they made it,鈥 Lui said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great showcase of our college鈥檚 approach to hands-on education.鈥
Led by senior aerospace engineering major and Honors College member Tristan Spearry, the team included Matt Petkovich, Cole Thompson, Alix Hernandez, Brennan Suffoletta and Hyeokjin Kim鈥攁ll students in various UAS or professional pilot programs. The drone was designed with a strong focus on payload capacity and reliability鈥攆eatures vital for commercial and industrial applications.
鈥淥ur combined expertise played a crucial role in successfully completing the drone,鈥 Spearry said. 鈥淢y aerospace engineering background, coupled with the UAS experience of other team members, ensured the final system met both technical and operational objectives.鈥
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.
鈥淥ur goal was to strike an optimal balance between reliability and power,鈥 said Spearry. 鈥淲e wanted something functional and durable for commercial or industrial use.鈥
He added that the experience deepened the team鈥檚 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.