Research Projects

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) issues regulations defining the Design/Build/Fly (DBF) Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (SUAV) design competition. This program centers on exploring both new and traditional aircraft design and manufacturing approaches for SUAVs that are optimized for the missions specified by the DBF competition. In-depth material selection studies will be executed and documented as part of the detail design phase of the aircraft. The aircraft’s mission-specific structural strength-to-weight ratio will be studied and optimized.

The economic potential of small unmanned aerial vehicles (SUAVs) has been well documented and reported. According to the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), there will be great economic impacts of the UAV industry. The goal of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Design/Build/Fly Competition Research Program (AIAA DBF CRP) is to investigate material selections and manufacturing methods for multipurpose SUAVs.  

Goals of the research to be conducted are:

1) Research and develop a design methodology specifically for the airframe of SUAVs.

2) Conduct efficiency analysis and research of electrical propulsion packages for SUAVs over a range of flight speeds.

3) Research and develop a material selection methodology specifically for SUAVs.

4) Conduct computer aided analyses to predict flight characteristics of aircraft prototypes.

5) Manufacture 3D printed prototypes of aircraft.

6) Conduct wind tunnel aerodynamic analyses on the 3D prototypes to affirm or contradict the computer aided analyses.

7) Manufacture full scale iterations using information from materials research to drive the design considerations.

The methodology to achieve these goals will be first, to educate underclassmen involved with the project of the concepts in play so that another generation of researchers will exist to take the place of the primary investigators of this year. Second, analyses of the team will dictate the number of materials and manufacturing methods to be investigated to stay on schedule with deadlines. Third, extensive research will be conducted into materials, electrical propulsion, and airframe design of SUAVs and the gathered information will be used in guiding manufacturing processes. Fourth, the final iteration of the aircraft will be built within the design parameters specified by the AIAA Design/Build/Fly Competition to simulate designing a SUAV for a real-life application. Last, the usage of advice from some of the greatest minds within the faculty of Embry-Riddle will carry the project through unforeseen challenges, both technical and managerial. Between the oversight of the faculty advisors and the Executive Board of AIAA Student Branch, the project will be well-guided to complete the mission.