UAV Flight from Vieques to Puerto Rico!

Hello Everyone,

I am an aerospace engineering Ph.d student at a university in New York and also the teaching assistant for an undergraduate course in aircraft design which will be partly taught in Puerto Rico. One of the main objectives for the course is that the studens have to design, document, and build radio control airplanes following traditional design formulae. Having following this community for a while, I proposed to the course instructor and also my advisor to attempt to fly autonomously at least one of the student designed airplanes off the coast of Puerto Rico from the island of Vieques to mainland Puerto Rico which is close to 20 miles!! I have been given the approval and my plan is to use the Ardupilot with pre-programmed GPS way points to accomplish this at least semi-autonomously. The idea is to also establish visual contact during the entire flight using a chase boat. I would like to ask the community, whomever has successfully implemented and flown the Ardupilot system including wireless telemetry with the ardustation or otherwise, if you would be interested in being a consultant to the project. If so, leave me a comment with your contact information and I will get back to you with further details. We plan to fly the RC airplanes/ UAVs during the first week of June in Puerto Rico of course, just to give you a time frame. Thanks everyone, Victor.

Thanks Chris, I will look into creating a mypage here on the website. As far as the design of the airframe and propulsion requirements, it's something that the students will have to design given the requirements of the mission, i.e. to fly for 15-20 miles. This could call for a glider type airplane configuration with a low wing loading to minimize battery weight. I deally we plan to use electric motors, again if we minimize current consumption perhaps by gearing the motor/s a reasonable Li-po battery of around 5 amp hours I imagine would be sufficient. Thanks for the interest guys, I myself am more concerned with the Ardupilot since I haven't actually put a system together, but will have to soon! Victor

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Victor Maldonado February 26, 2010 at 11:52am

Thanks Chris, I will look into creating a mypage here on the website. As far as the design of the airframe and propulsion requirements, it's something that the students will have to design given the requirements of the mission, i.e. to fly for 15-20 miles. This could call for a glider type airplane configuration with a low wing loading to minimize battery weight. I deally we plan to use electric motors, again if we minimize current consumption perhaps by gearing the motor/s a reasonable Li-po battery of around 5 amp hours I imagine would be sufficient. Thanks for the interest guys, I myself am more concerned with the Ardupilot since I haven't actually put a system together, but will have to soon! Victor
Alexandre de Oliveira February 26, 2010 at 11:05am

The one thing I wish to know is about the engine. What are you gonna use, eletricity? I'd like to know how you're gonna fly 20Km :)
Developer

Jason Short February 26, 2010 at 10:56am

The Ardupilot part sounds relatively straight forward. It's the airframe / power selection that might need the most input. What are your thoughts so far?
Alexandre de Oliveira February 26, 2010 at 10:32am

Great project. Unfortunately, I can't help you, but I advise the creation of a website. That would be great.
3D Robotics

Chris Anderson February 26, 2010 at 10:19am

Victor,

You can use the text box on your MyPage here as the website, or use a stand-alone page with its own URL (called a Note here)
Victor Maldonado February 26, 2010 at 9:27am

Hey Brian, Thanks we will need the luck! I hadn't thought of setting up a website but that would be a great idea. At the least I can update the community with some posts.

Victor

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