Aerodynamic Performance of Flight Vehicles

Our team designed a fixed-wing drone for the National Park Service using SolidWorks and AutoCAD. The drone, weighing 10 lbs with a 6 ft wingspan, focuses on maximizing flight endurance and visual observation capabilities. Key aspects include aerodynamic efficiency, optimal propulsion with twice the required thrust, and high-quality sensor integration. The project deliverables include a technical paper detailing the design, sensor equipment, and how the design choices contribute to long flight times.