Drones and UAV Systems
Educational Drones
Educational Drones
- Mini quadcopters for basic flight training and coding practice
- DIY drone kits for electronics and programming learning
- Classroom drones for STEM and robotics integration
- Simulation-based drones for virtual flight and control system training
- Visual and sensor-based drones for AI and computer vision projects
Research Drones
- Multirotor drones for aerial mapping, inspection, and environmental studies
- Fixed wing drones for long duration research missions
- Hybrid VTOL drones for advanced experimentation
- Swarm drones for autonomous coordination and AI research
- Drone platforms equipped with LiDAR, multispectral, or thermal sensors
- Underwater and amphibious drones for marine and environmental research
- Autonomous delivery drones for logistics and mobility studies
Defence and Military Drones
- Tactical reconnaissance drones for battlefield surveillance
- Strategic long-endurance UAVs for intelligence gathering
- Combat and armed drones for offensive missions
- Micro and nano drones for close-quarters reconnaissance
- Unmanned ground and aerial systems for target acquisition and tracking
- Naval and underwater drones for mine detection and maritime security
- Cargo and supply drones for logistics in remote or combat zones
Core Structural Components
Frame / Chassis
- Quadcopter / Hexacopter / Octocopter frame
- Material: Carbon fiber (lightweight & strong), aluminum, or plastic
- Landing gear (fixed or retractable)
- Propeller guards / arms
- Vibration dampers / shock absorbers
Propulsion System
-
Brushless DC Motors (BLDC):
- Rated by KV (RPM per Volt), e.g., 920KV, 1000KV
- High torque, low KV for heavy drones Electronic Speed Controllers (ESCs):
- 20A / 30A / 40A depending on motor current,
- with or without BEC (Battery Eliminator Circuit) Propellers:
- 2-blade or 3-blade,
- Materials: Carbon fiber, nylon, or plastic,
- Sizes: 8”, 10”, 12”, 14” (depends on frame & motor)
Power & Battery Systems
- Li-Po (Lithium Polymer) Batteries – 3S / 4S / 6S (11.1V–22.2V)
- Battery capacity: 2200 mAh – 10,000 mAh (based on flight time)
- Battery Management System (BMS)
- Li-Po Charger (IMAX B6, SkyRC, etc.)
- Power connectors (XT60, XT90, Deans T-plug)
- Voltage regulators (5 V / 12 V)
Flight Control & Navigation
Flight Controller Boards
- Pixhawk / Pixhawk 4
- APM 2.8
- KK2.1.5
- NAZA-M V2 (DJI)
- F4 / F7 Betaflight controllers (for FPV drones)
- Built-in features: Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Barometer, Compass
- GPS interface
- Telemetry & sensor expansion ports
ADCS Actuators
- Reaction wheels (for fine control)
- Magnetorquers (torque rods / coils)
- Control moment gyros (for high-precision satellites)
- Thrusters (cold gas / ion microthrusters – in advanced systems)
ADCS Processing Unit
- ADCS controller board (microcontroller or FPGA-based)
- Sensor fusion algorithm (Kalman filter, attitude estimation)
Command and Data Handling (OBC – Onboard Computer)
- OBC microcontroller / microprocessor boards (ARM, RISC-V, etc.)
- CubeSat OBCs (ISIS-OBC, GomSpace NanoMind, Clyde Space OBC)
- Data buses: I2C, SPI, UART, CAN
- Memory storage (SD card / MRAM / FRAM – radiation-hardened)
- Watchdog timer & redundancy circuits
- Telecommand / telemetry software stack
- Real-time operating system (FreeRTOS / RTEMS / SpaceWire)
Payload Subsystem
Imaging & Remote Sensing
- High-resolution camera (visible / multispectral / IR)
- Lenses and optical filters
- Gimbals or pointing mechanisms
Scientific Payloads
- Environmental sensors (temperature, radiation, magnetic field)
- Spectrometers, particle detectors, or atmospheric sensors
- Radio beacons or ADS-B receivers
Technology Demonstration Payloads
- AI-on-the-edge computing module (e.g., Jetson Nano, Raspberry Pi Compute Module)
- Data compression and image processing units
- Inter-satellite communication payload
Onboard Software & Simulation
Onboard Software & Simulation
- Mission simulation software (AGI STK, GMAT, FreeFlyer)
- Flight software frameworks (NASA Core Flight System, COSMOS)
- Telemetry encoding/decoding software
- MATLAB/Simulink (control algorithm design)
- C/C++ or Python (for mission logic & testing)
Ground Segment (Operations & Control)
Ground Segment (Operations & Control)
- Ground station antenna system (VHF / UHF / S / X band)
- Rotator controller & satellite tracking system
- SDR transceivers (HackRF, LimeSDR, USRP)
- Ground control software (SatNOGS, Mission Planner, Orbitron)
- Networked servers for data reception & command uplink
- Telemetry database & visualization dashboard
Testing & Validation Equipment
Electrical Testing
- Multimeter, oscilloscope, and spectrum analyzer
- Power analyzer for voltage and current monitoring
- Thermal chamber for temperature cycling tests
Mechanical Testing
- Vibration test table for launch vibration simulation
- Shock and drop testing equipment
- Vacuum chamber for thermal–vacuum testing
- Clean room tools for satellite assembly
RF Testing
- Antenna pattern test setup or anechoic chamber
- Network analyzer (VNA) for signal measurement
- RF power meters and directional couplers
Tools & Assembly Accessories
Tools & Assembly Accessories
- ESD-safe workstation and tools
- Soldering station with fine tip
- Wire crimpers, cutters, and heat shrink tubing
- Optical cleaning kits for lenses and sensors
- 3D printer for custom brackets or mockups
- Screwdrivers, torque wrench, and precision tweezers
- Safety gear including gloves, antistatic mats, and grounding straps