Communications
Research of Communication Technologies In the context of the Phoenix mission, which will fly over isolated forest areas, there is a need for a reliable communication system with two way link coverage. The Communications subsystem carries out research on all the available data link candidates, including Wi-Fi, cellular and satellite networks, Software Defined Radio, LPWAN […]
Software Development
Autopilot As a part of the project’s research on solar-powered UAVs, the Avionics Software Development sub-system is focusing on the development of an autopilot system. This includes the selection of the right hardware platform and programming it in a way that will fit the mission’s requirements in autonomy and stability. The ArduPilot open-source codebase has […]
Aerodynamics Design
Airfoil selection This is the process of selecting the appropriate airfoil based on criteria set by the mission requirements and design preferences. Since it is conducted at the beginning of the design process mainly low-fidelity tools are used for that matter, however, high-fidelity tools can be used to appropriately visualize the flow. Wing, tail and […]
Solar Energy Management
The SEM subsystem’s main responsibilities are solar panel design, analysis and implementation, alongside with battery research and selection, and lastly design of the charging circuit. Photovoltaic (PV) Panel Selecting the appropriate photovoltaic cell is crucial for Phoenix’s autonomy. The total photovoltaic panel should not only meet the UAV’s energy requirements, but also be suitable in […]
Hardware Development
The Hardware Development sub-system’s main responsibilities are the development of flight measurement systems, the collection, and processing of flight data, the implementation of telemetry systems, as well as the UAVs’ electric equipment, such as servomotors, batteries and ESCs (Electronic Speed Controllers). Measurement/Telemetry systems Flight data collection is an inseparable part of the design optimisation, as […]
Structural
Overview The Structural sub-system in Aeronautics, is responsible for a part of the aircraft’s design and construction. In order to better understand its contribution to the project, it is most suitable to see it in action through the design phases and Fabrication processes. Conceptual Design In the Conceptual design phase, Structural engineers need to calculate […]