AEV Moving Forward: Priorities for the AEV include being lightweight, and aerodynamic. This, along with limiting our use of materials will keep the cost low and energy use low.
Through research we found that tilted wings allow for lift and will reduce the amount of power needed to move the AEV. Through our research of efficiency of battery operated machines, we also found that not using a lot of material, and keeping it light will reduce the power used as well. We also realized that if we kept the front end lighter and narrow, it would be more aerodynamic. This would reduce the cost of material as well as the power cost.
The final design we’ve chosen for our AEV combines the various sketches we had developed and adds an element of design along with simplicity.