AE 421: AIRCRAFT DETAIL DESIGN
AEROCARE Student Lead: Kelsey Martin Student Team Members: Joseph Baskette, Archer Coates, Michael DiNisco, Benjamin Eben, Allison Eastman, Cody Hall, Marcus Ile, Aidan Ivers, Kelsey Martin, Tomas Schweitzer Faculty: Professor Joseph Smith and Dr. Matthew Haslam Access to critical medical supplies in remote regions remains limited due to the inefficiency of conventional ground transportation. Aerial delivery systems have demonstrated the ability to drastically reduce transport times and improve response capability in emergency situations. To address this challenge, AeroCare has developed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed for rapid, mid-flight medical payload deployment. The system is engineered to complete missions of at least 100 miles in under one hour while carrying a 4 lb payload. The baseline mission profile includes a short takeoff under 56 ft, a climb rate of 1,000 ft/min to a cruise altitude of 1,000 ft AGL, descent to 400 ft AGL for payload release, and autonomous return to base. Following trade studies and preliminary analyses, a high-wing, conventional-tail configuration was selected for optimal stability, aerodynamic efficiency and manufacturability. Propulsion is provided by a two-stroke gasoline engine, chosen for its high energy density, favorable power-to-weight ratio and cost-effectiveness relative to electric alternatives. At the Critical Design Review stage, all major subsystems, including outer mold line, propulsion, avionics and payload release mechanisms, have been refined to meet mission requirements and manufacturing constraints. The AeroCare UAV demonstrates the feasibility of a reliable, rapid-response aerial delivery platform, advancing the use of UAV technology to enhance access to life-saving medical resources in remote environments. GLIDR Student Lead: Bruce Willey Student Team Members: Jason Davis, Cody Hawes, Josiah Lincoln, Kaylee Mason, Jasmyn McBeth, Luke Pierce, Jameson Shockley, Thomas Sly, Bruce Willey Faculty: Professor Joseph Smith and Dr. Matthew Haslam NASA’s Wallops Facility requires a guided, high-altitude return vehicle to deliver data from their Super Pressure Weather Balloons. To address this issue, NASA launched a competition for collegiate submissions. This Critical Design Review (CDR) presents the development of the Guided Landing Instrument for Descent and Recovery (GLIDR). This autonomous return vehicle is deployed from a high-altitude balloon, designed to land a data vault precisely at a specified location designated by the end user. GLIDR is a unique solution that incorporates airbrakes for attitude control at high altitudes, a paraglider for covering long ranges and navigating to specific locations, and a 3D-printed ballistic Crumple Zone designed to reduce the impact felt by the data vault significantly. The design focuses on full six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) analysis, empirical ballistics tests for landing behavior and the integration of a flight computer with on-board sensors to ensure accurate descent guidance. Key design considerations include aerodynamic stability, control algorithms and impact mitigation, evaluated through computational modeling and hardware-in-the-loop testing. Preliminary results from simulations and tests provide insights into trajectory accuracy, environmental robustness, aerodynamic and ballistic performance, as well as potential risks that affect landing precision.
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SENIOR CAPSTONE PROJECTS
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