// overview
Overview
This project focused on designing, building, and flying a quadcopter for the SAE Aerothon competition. The goal was to learn the fundamentals of quadcopter design and systems integration — covering aerodynamics, flight dynamics, and hands-on manufacturing. It was my entry point into the world of drone engineering.
Every component — from the carbon fiber frame to the flight controller tuning — was approached with a competition mindset: lightweight, reliable, and flight-ready.
// specs
Technical Specifications
Frame Material
Carbon Fiber tubes & sheets
Flight Controller
PIXHAWK 2.4.8
Ground Station
Mission Planner
RC System
Radiomaster Transmitter
Design Software
Fusion 360
Analysis
ANSYS Structural
Fabrication
Waterjet cutting, 3D printing
Telemetry
915 MHz telemetry module
// features
Key Features
- Lightweight carbon fiber frame construction
- Custom 3D-printed connector and mount parts
- Precision waterjet-cut plates for structural accuracy
- Telemetry for real-time flight monitoring
- PIXHAWK-based stabilization and autonomous modes
// learnings
Key Learnings
- Full drone design-build-fly cycle from scratch
- Flight controller tuning and PID optimization
- Weight management with composite materials
- Systems integration: electronics, structure, firmware
// gallery
Gallery
