Introduction

The MDUAV SP 23 is a versatile, multi-role aircraft designed for the rapid deployment of medical supplies. As the Lead Engineer, I was responsible for the overall design, performance calculations, and control system setup. The aircraft is capable of carrying a 2kg payload over a range of 10 km and offers multiple take-off and landing configurations.

Objectives

Develop a VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft for rapid medical supply deployment. Achieve a payload capacity of 2kg and an operational range of 10 km. Create a multi-role aircraft capable of VTOL, STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing), and conventional take-offs and landings.

Specifications

• Material: EPO foam, Carbon Fiber, and 3D printed parts
• Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW): 20 lbs
• Power System: Pixhawk Flight Controller
• Payload Capacity: 2 kg
• Operational Range: 10 km

Progress

Structure

• Utilized CAD software for the initial design.
• Conducted Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to validate structural integrity.
• Incorporated additional spars and test rigs for further validation.

Avionics

Integrated a Pixhawk as the primary flight controller. Successfully mounted avionics and completed motor tests. Conducted a Motor Runup in preparation for flight testing.

Testing

Conducted comprehensive flight tests to evaluate the aircraft's responsiveness in various modes:

• Vertical Mode: PID tuning for stable vertical take-offs and landings.
• Horizontal Mode: PID tuning for efficient and stable horizontal flight.
• Transition Mode: PID tuning for seamless transitions between vertical and horizontal flight.

Control System

Played a pivotal role in setting up the control systems for vertical, horizontal, and transition modes. Utilized PID controllers for fine-tuning the aircraft's responsiveness in each mode.

Next Steps

The MDUAV SP 23 project has successfully met its key objectives, demonstrating its capability for rapid medical supply deployment with a 2kg payload and 10 km range. The next phase will focus on further refining the control systems and conducting extensive flight tests under varying conditions.