Individual Designs
Alec’s
The goal behind this design was to make it as aerodynamic as possible and minimize the drag force. It is lightweight and encompasses all the necessary parts of the AEV.
Payton’s
This design was modeled off the prototype with small suggestions. The motors and propellers were placed underneath the AEV to help with power and connectivity between the control system. Having a smaller wingspan allows for a more aerodynamic design.
Billy’s
This design is small and lightweight. It takes advantage of aerodynamics as it has many rounded surfaces that allow it to cut through the air.
Mia’s
This design focuses on aerodynamics as it is small and lightweight. It features a rounded piece in the front that could be 3D-printed. The T-arm and symmetry promotes balance on the track.
First Team Design
During the exercises, problems were realized with the first prototype that was built. There were pieces on the AEV that had no function to the design, the weight distribution was uneven, the propellers were at an angled position that made it hard for them to be bolted down, and the overall design didn’t match the division’s ideas of what it should look like. Looking at the individual designs it’s obvious that each member agreed that the AEV should be smaller than the first prototype to help with the aerodynamics and the weight overall. In the team design, the base of the AEV was changed to make a slimmer design and unnecessary pieces were removed. The propellers were placed at the bottom of the AEV so that they could be bolted securely and the propellers could rotate and “push” the AEV evenly. The control system and the battery were placed underneath with the motors to the propellers so that all the wires flow underneath and smoothly together. This way there are no wires that can get tangled with the other parts of the AEV on the top. The sensor wires will run from the control system to the arm of the AEV in a single path to keep this concept intact. This design is still in a prototype phase since it has not been run during lab and exercise 5 has not been completed.
