Design, fabricate, and demonstrate the flight capabilities of an unmanned, electric powered, radio controlled aircraft that can best meet the specified mission profile.

The theme for this year’s competition is a Tube-Launched UAV. The objective is to design an aircraft that will fit completely inside a launch tube, which also acts as the aircraft’s handling and storage container. The aircraft must be able to complete three flight missions and the launch tube must be able to withstand several drops with the aircraft and payloads packaged inside. Neither the tube nor the aircraft can sustain major damage and all flight controls and propulsion must remain functional after the drop tests. Minimizing the aircraft and launch tube weight is crucial to the team’s success.

Molding:
Created lightweight composite fuselage through stitching of Material and epoxy wet lay-up

Improved balsa manufacturing:
Laser cutting
Soaked bending

Packaging:
Aircraft sizing

Coding:
Score analysis
PA and MA optimization

3D Printed tooling:
Jigs, molds, mounts

DBF is meant to be a channel for students to apply analytical knowledge taught in class to real life applications. Fluid mechanics, structures of materials, programming, computer-aided design, and more are utilized in the design process of the plane. The project also provides the opportunity for students to learn information usually not taught inside the classroom. This includes extensive composite manufacturing, iterative design processes, aircraft assembly, and documentation. Students are given more hands-on and practical experience, compared to the theoretical and conceptual focus of the engineering curriculum.

Significance:
Applying theory to practical
Bridging the gap between the classroom and real world industry

Development:
Personal; and professional skills
Building team communication
Opportunity for leadership

Management:
Finances
Team structure
Understanding the process involved in designing and manufacturing
Anticipating deadlines

Networking:
Legacy
Events