UAV programme
A family of electric drones and a trailer-mounted electromagnetic launcher, for a funded MOD project.
- Project
- MOD-funded programme
- Role
- Design team member; lead designer on the canard concept
- Outcome
- Five carbon-fibre drones and two launch trailers delivered
Challenge
Develop a family of electric drones, and a trailer-mounted launcher capable of getting them to high speed over a very short distance.
What I did
I was part of the team delivering three drone designs and a trailer launcher that uses an electromagnetic rail system to launch them. I contributed to drone design, prototyping and component development across the programme.
The canard concept
The second drone concept needed to test a canard configuration quickly and at low cost. I led its design and prototyped it using folded sheet metal and 3D-printed parts to prove out the layout.
The working prototype informed the development of the final carbon-fibre drone.
The launch trailer
The launcher had to accelerate the drones to high speed over a short distance, and its magnets and electronics depended on every part being precisely aligned along the full length of the system.
I was part of the team that designed and built it. It combines CNC-machined, sheet metal and 3D-printed parts, all held to tight tolerances over a 6-metre length so the electromagnetic system worked as intended.
Outcome
A successfully funded MOD project. Two fully built launch trailers were delivered, and five carbon-fibre drones were used for demonstration.