Each team member came up with their own design and sketched them.
Design 1 Manta
The main motivation behind this design was to utilize an airplane’s aerodynamics to move smoothly through the air. This would allow for an easy transport of cargo while keeping the weight relatively light. The materials used in the design is a 4×12 base with a 5×4 parallelogram for the front. The wings are two 4×6 parallelograms and the back spoiler are two 3×6 rectangles. All of the necessary material is provided in the kit for this design, so no parts need to be bought or created. This design’s low weight and aerodynamics will increase the overall efficiency that is tasked in the mission concept review.
Figure 1: sketch of design 1
Design 2
The main focus of this design was to reduce the overall weight of the AEV. The design uses the 2”x6” rectangle for the body of the AEV and two 1”x3” rectangles for the motors to be mounted on. At the rear of the AEV a servo will be mounted so that the cargo pick up will be automated. For this design a custom part will need to be manufactured to be a hook that is controlled by the servo. This design will have a high power output to weight ratio with the minimalistic design of the body so that less energy is needed to power the vehicle.
Figure 2: sketch of design 2
Design 3
The purpose of the design is to maximize the efficiency. There are several ways in efficiency can be improved. Minimizing the weight of the AEV can make it move faster. Balancing the body can help to make the AEV more stable. A 4 x 12 rectangle was used for the base. The T-shape arm is used to hold two wheels and obtain the balance of the AEV. Two propellers are attached on the back and 2 3×6 rectangles are also attached to support the propellers. All parts used in the design are inside the AEV kit. Batteries and motors are needed for the AEV to run and function correctly. Energy management, operational efficiency and operation consistency were all considered during the design process.
Figure 3: sketch of design 3