MINI PROJECT
SEE REVIEW
SCHOOL OF MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING
5th Semester A Division
TEAM NO- MP_17-18_A7
PROJECT TITLE
DESIGN & FABRICATION OF
REMOTE CONTROLLED VERTICAL
TAKEOFF/ LANDING PLANE
2.1.1 Articulate problem statement and identify objectives
Problem Statement
• Design and fabricate a remote controlled (RC) vertical take off / landing plane for various
applications such as aerial monitoring during natural calamities.
Objectives:
-- Calculate, design and fabricate remote controlled vertical takeoff landing (RC VTOL) plane for
payload carrying.
-- Choose proper electronic and mechanical components for required flight.
-- Calibration of flight controller.
2.1.2 Identify engineering systems, variables and parameters to solve the problem
Engineering Systems:
• Tilt mechanism for changing the axis of motor from vertical axis to horizontal and vice versa. The mechanism
uses a pair of gears on each side of the wing. One of the gear on both the sides is fixed and the other is run by
servo motors.
• The correct combination of motor and propeller which is connected to the recommended battery pack for
obtaining the optimum thrust for the solution proposed.
• All the electrical connections of the components such as camera, motor, battery, servo motors, receiver etc.
• Design of the structure of the plane to withstand the dynamic loads experienced during flight or on ground
including factor of safety.
Variables
The structure of the plane can be kept same whereas the components can be modified or replaced according to
the application. Some of them are-
1.The motor and propeller combination can be altered to obtain high thrust for carrying heavy payloads of over 2
kg
2.The wingspan can be increased or decreased according to the time of flight to be achieved.
3.As the battery takes up most of the weight in the aircraft, a smaller or larger capacity battery can be used
suitable to the application (time of flight, high speed).
Parameters
• The following are the parameters of paramount importance to solve the stated problem-
• T/W Ratio: The thrust to weight ratio of the aircraft must be greater than 1.5 to obtain the
expected flight for aerial monitoring.
• Weight: The weight of the aircraft is very crucial for the proper functioning of the
application.
• Aerofoil: The aerofoil of the wing must generate decent amount of lift force for the aircraft
to fly at lower speeds to monitor an area.
• Centre of gravity: The centre of gravity of an aircraft is the point over which the aircraft will
balance so that stable flight is achieved.
• Aspect ratio (wing): High aspect ratio wings create less induced drag. But high aspect
ratios means the wing strength must also be more to compensate on the span of the wing.
• Wing loading: It determines the lift force that can be produced by each unit of wing area.
2.2.3 Identify existing processes/solutions methods for solving the
problem, including forming justified approximations and assumptions
2.2.4 Compare and contrast alternative solution processes to select the
best process
EXISTING/ALTERNATE
SOLUTIONS
OF QUADCOPTERS AND RC PLANES
DJI S1000
Maximum payload: 6.8kg
Maximum flight time: 15 minutes
Range: 2 km
Cost: $1499 ( Rs 96132.22)
DJI Spreading Wings S900
Maximum payload: 4.9kg
Maximum flight time: 18 minutes
Range: N/A
Cost: $3400 ( Rs 218045.06)
DJI Matrice 600
Maximum payload: 6kg
Maximum flight time: 16 minutes
Range: 5 km
Cost: $3500 ( Rs 224458.15)
DJI Matrice 100
Maximum payload: 3.6kg
Maximum flight time: 40 minutes
Range: 5 km
Cost: $4049 ( Rs 259666.01)
Yuneec Tornado H920
Maximum payload: 1.6kg
Maximum flight time: 24 minutes
Range: 5 km
Cost: $3066.6 ( Rs 196683.06)
Zipline drone delivery system
Zipline operates the world’s only drone delivery system at
national scale to send urgent medicines like blood to
patients.
Zipline improves access to these supplies by flying over
impassable mountains and washed-out roads, delivering
directly to remote clinics. They centralize supply and
provide on-demand deliveries, completely reducing waste
and stock-outs.
Approximations and assumptions
Wing Tail
1. Wingspan: 1000 mm Horizontal Stabilizer (HS)
2. Cord length: 127 mm
3. Aerofoil type: Clark-Y 1. Length= 0.3*Wingspan= 300mm
4. Thickness: 20 mm 2. Width= 100mm
5. Aspect ratio: 1000/127= 7.87 3. Thickness= 5mm
6. Wing loading: 0.0067 g/sq. mm Vertical Stabilizer
4. Length: 0.5*Length of HS= 150mm
5. Width: 90mm
Fuselage
6. Thickness: 5mm
1. Length: 0.75*Wingspan= 750 mm
T/W Ratio= 1.67
2. Width: 100 mm
3. Height: 100 mm Approx. thrust= 1500 g (750+750)
Expected weight: 800-900 g
Flight time= (Battery capacity in Ah/Avg amp draw)*60
= (2.2/13.5)*60 = 9.78 minutes
10.1.1 Read, understand and interpret technical and
non- technical information
Parts of RC
Airplane
Nose: Part of the fuselage, the nose is the front of the airplane forward
of the wings.
Fuselage: The main body of the airplane. The RC electronics (motors,
servos, batteries, wiring) are housed inside the fuselage. Some RC
airplanes have little more than a long stick or rod for a fuselage.
Wing: Airplanes are called fixed wing aircraft. Attached to the fuselage,
the wings don't usually flap or turn.
Tail: At the back end of the fuselage, the tail comes in many forms
including conventional or T-tail, V-tail, or flat.
Propeller: Most RC airplanes have some form of propeller. 2 and 3
blade propellers are common. The propeller is usually affixed to the
motor and may be mounted on the nose, tail, or the wings
Wing Placement Affects How a Plane Flies
MONOPLANES
So named because they have one wing, monoplanes usually
have one of three configurations: high wing, low wing, or mid-
wing.
High wing: The wing is above the fuselage. It may be attached
or supported with wires or struts of some kind. A very stable,
steady flyer.
Low wing: The wing is attached below the fuselage. This
configuration is found on a lot of planes designed for
aerobatics.
Mid-wing: The wings are on either side of the fuselage. Jets
and sports planes often have this wing placement.
BI-PLANES
A bi-plane is a two wing design.
The plane has two wings, usually one over and one under the fuselage. The wings are
connected to each other with various configurations of struts and wires.
Control Surfaces Are Moving Parts
Moveable portions of RC aircraft that, when moved
into specific positions, cause the airplane to move in
a certain direction are control surfaces.
Most RC airplanes have some kind of rudder and
elevator control for turning, climbing, and
descending. Ailerons are found on many hobby-
grade models.
Ailerons Are For Rolling Over
A hinged control surface on the trailing edge (rear side) of
an airplane wing near the tip, the aileron moves up and
down and controls the direction of a rolling turn.
An airplane has a pair of ailerons, controlled by servos,
that move opposite of each other unless they are in the
neutral (flat with the wing) position. With the right aileron
up and the left aileron down the airplane will roll to the
right. Move the right aileron down, the left goes up and the
airplane starts rolling to the left.
Elevators Are For Going Up and Down
The position of the elevator controls whether the nose of
the airplane is pointing up or down and thus moving up or
down.
The nose of the plane moves in the direction of the
elevators. Point the elevator up and the nose goes up and
the airplane climbs. Move the elevator so it is pointing
down and the nose goes down and the airplane descends.
Rudders Are For Turning
The rudder is a hinged control surface on the vertical
stabilizer or fin at the tail of an airplane. Moving the rudder
affects the left and right movement of the airplane.
The airplane turns in the same direction that the rudder is
turned. Move the rudder to the left, the plane turns to the
left. Move the rudder to the right, the plane turns to the
right.
Materials that can be used to make body of
RC planes
• Wood
• Paper/Boxboard
• Balsa wood
• Wood veneer (Obechi, poplar)
• Light plywood
• Fiberglass
• Carbon Fibre
• Plastic / Foam
• Corrugated plastic (such as Coroplast)
• Polycarbonate resin thermoplastic (such as Lexan)
• Moulded polystyrene
• Extruded polystyrene (such as Depron or STYROFOAM)
• PolyNylolene (trademark for a durable, high density foam)
• Expanded polypropylene (EPP, foam form of polypropylene plastic)
Conclusion:
• To solve the given problem statement and meet the required
objectives, we have chosen RC vertical take off landing plane due to
following reasons:
• It does not require a runway to take-off.
• It can be used to hover above a certain place.
• Since it is a hybrid of plane and duo copter, it can be turned into plane when
speed is required.
The weight of the plane is the most crucial part in this design.
All the design parameters are directly linked to the weight.
More the weight of the plane, greater must be the thrust.
More is the thrust requirement, larger should be the motor &
prop capacity. Higher capacity of the motor needs a more
powerful battery. All these parameters leads to shooting up of
the cost.
Taking in consideration of the cost, RC VTOL is the optimal
engineering design due to the following reasons-
• Cost effective compared to alternative solutions.
• Hybrid of multi-copter & aero plane.
• Carries decent payload at high speeds.
13.1.1 Develop 2D drawings of
components/systems using
modern CAD tools
Part Drawing of Fuselage
Part Drawing of Wing
Part Drawing of Horizontal Stabiliser
(Elevator)
Part Drawing of Vertical Stabiliser
(Rudder)
Part Drawing of Motor Housing
Part Drawing of Rod (Fuselage)
Part Drawing of Gears
2D Assembly Drawing
Isometric view
Material/Parts List
Part name Material Quantity Dimension
500mm(length)
Wing Depron 2 127mm+3.81mm(Cord
length)
Length-200mm
Fuselage Depron 1 Width-100mm
Height-100mm
Spar Steel 2 1100mm and 650mm
Length-300mm
Elevator Depron 1 Width- 130mm
Thickness-5mm
Height-150mm
Rudder Depron 2 Length-90mm
Thickness-5mm
Z= 20
Gear ABS 4 D=40mm
Module=2
Length= 33mm
Motor housing ABS 2
Width=30mm
Bought out Parts/Components
BLDC motor – 1600Kv (150 W)
Cost- Rs.1300 (2 Motors)
Battery 11.1 V, 2200 mah, 25 C
Cost- Rs. 2000
Electronic speed controller – 30 A
Cost- Rs.1600 (2 ESCs)
FPV Camera (2 MP with live transmission)
Cost- Rs.4200
Propellers – 10X3.5E
Cost- Rs.180 (2 Props)
Flight controller – KK board V 2.1.5
Cost- Rs.1300
Push rods (2mm thickness)
Cost- Rs.180
Transmitter & receiver (Graupner mz-12, 2.4GHz )
Cost- Rs.15000
Servo motors (5 no.s)
Cost- Rs. 2120
13.1.3 Apply GD&T principles as
per ASME standards for
manufacturing drawings
Electrical components
Fabrication
Testing and refinement
During the flight
test, it was
observed that
the weight of
plane was more
than expected
which resulted
in reduced
thrust to weight
ratio.
Optimized plane
dimensions were
carried in order to
increase thrust to
weight ratio.
Therefore, the
dimensions of some
parts of the design
were changed. The
changed
dimensions are as
follows
Conclusion and recommendation
• After designing the model and testing it we came to the conclusion
that the vertical take-off and landing plane has tremendous potential.
If improved into an autonomous full-fledged UAV, this has wide
military and civilian application.
• Range of the plane can be increased, to cover more area. Capacity of
motors and battery can be suitably chosen for specific applications
concerned to time of flight and payload. Materials like carbon fibre
can be used to increase strength to weight ratio.
