// overview
Overview
This project set out to push the boundaries of what a camera drone frame could weigh while still handling real payloads. The H-frame configuration was chosen for its stability and payload balance characteristics. The target: frame under 300g, payload capacity up to 1kg.
The design went through structural simulations in ANSYS to validate each component, with material selection and geometry optimized iteratively until both targets were met. I led the frame design, simulation workflow, and component integration at Aero360.
// specs
Technical Specifications
Frame Weight
< 300g
Payload Capacity
Up to 1 kg
Configuration
H-frame quadcopter
Material
Carbon fiber composite
Flight Controller
PIXHAWK Cube
Design Software
SolidWorks, Fusion 360
Analysis
ANSYS Structural
Canopy
Fully enclosed protective shell
// features
Key Features
- H-frame geometry for natural payload stability
- Sub-300g frame — maximizes flight time
- Enclosed protective canopy for electronics
- Optimized component placement for CG balance
- Efficient cable routing in limited H-frame space
- Modular arm design for field serviceability
// challenges
Challenges
- Hitting sub-300g with a full enclosure and structural integrity
- Routing wiring cleanly in the constrained H-frame layout
- Balancing component placement for stable hover under payload
- Validating structural limits via simulation before fabrication
// gallery
Gallery
