I am currently in an organization that is developing a UAV for a competition and I am on the airframe selection committee. Our team needs an airframe or RPV that will be able to carry a small payload as well as all the components and sensors required for navigation, autopilot, etc. My question is what could be an affordable airframe or RPV that would be able to perform our task with ease?
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For $500 you can build your own rig. Electric stuff are pretty cheap now.
Also look in to converting a glider into UAV. You may have to build a "fatter" fuselage but most gliders have really good aerodynamic efficiency, light, strong and even composite.
I recommend composite for durability, for stress loading especially with 10-15lbs payload. Of course if you "ball it up", composite will be harder to fix - your judgment there as to how well your testing procedures go and how good is your external pilot.
Just remember, the 3m wingspan Aerosonde has a max take off weight of 15+kg.
Min Speed?
Max Speed?
Gas or Electric?
Wood or Composite?
How "affordable" is affordable?
How good is your external pilot?