Propulsion team has finished testing the tilting mechanism and coded the geometry into a micro-controller so that the servo rotates the entire rotor. Next, they will use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with the AVL.

Mechanical Design has modified the landing skids of the previous prototype iteration and they have completed a third iteration of prototype is complete. The new frame for the current fuselage is near completion, and is estimated to be finished by the end of the quarter.

Fabrication team has attached the servos to the plane and are currently building the horizontal and vertical tail.

Ground Station continues to fix bugs in the program as the new GUI transitions from using Google Maps features to Leaflet functions. They have created a load and save data functionality in the form of “buttons” in the program. The team continues to draft a formal network protocol with Avionics.

In Avionics, the Software division has completed a Lidar demo for the Fall Design Review that shows how Lidar device scans and finds objects in its path. They have verified the ESC receiver can read signals from the plane’s controller and are working to convert the signals for the motors to read. They established the PWM connection for the servos and Arduino and have achieved a full range motion of 95 degrees. The Software division is also working on the network code with Ground station and the Pixhawk code. Then, the Hardware division has the tilt rotor power layout ready to assemble and is continuing to make EAGLE PCB schematics. They also have fixed the burnt-out XT90 connectors on quad copter, the battery and on the Pixhawk power pass-through cable. The Hardware division has plans to make prototype for the PCB schematics and has made team goals for the next quarter, such as custom autopilot designs.

UAV Forge is close to the end of the design phase.
I can see that each team will accomplish its quarter goals and the plane will come together.

We are not meeting in Week 9 to celebrate Thanksgiving. And I’m thankful to be part of this wonder senior project!