Click this link for the Project Proposal from last year.
Problem Statement
Most unmanned aerial vehicles are remotely controlled, during the course of this project it is Team UAVs’ goal to successfully design and test an autonomously controlled unmanned aircraft. To accomplish this task our group will compile an extensive amount of information related to the creation of an autopilot which will be capable of basic flight operations. Once this data has been collected and analyzed it will then be incorporated into a carbon fiber remote controlled aircraft for testing and completion of our teams goal.
Project Summary
The 2006/2007 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Team is going to build an auto pilot system for a medium sized radio controlled airplane. The airplane used for the project will be electric with propeller drive. The auto pilot program will be able to perform the most basic flight operations. These include level flight, elevation change, and turning left or right. The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Team will install and prove the auto pilot program on the medium sized plane mentioned.
The UAV team will need to utilize equipment provided. The High Speed Unmanned Air Vehicle Team from 2005/2006 donated a carbon fiber plane, controller, and the necessary servos to fly the plane. The controller is the Kestrel Virtual Cockpit 2.1 made by Procerus.
The UAV Team will need to analyze the characteristics of the specific airplane. The Autopilot can then be programmed/built for that exact plane. This will allow for confidant flight knowing that the autopilot will not try to put the plane into a position in which the plane is unable to maintain the necessary lift during flight. This analysis will require both analytical and physical testing.
Group Picture
TysonRemm , BryceIngersoll , JamesJacob