RC Plane

Preliminary Design

Working on the design of the airframe, I researched the optimum wingspan ratios, thrust to weight ratios, and optimal center of gravity placement for a stable aircraft, all taken into consideration when designing this RC Plane in Fusion 360. To assist in fabrication and assembly, I also created various technical drawings for the geometries, dimensions, and placements of all components.

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Fabrication

For the wing, a long rectangular piece of balsa wood was used as a brace with multiple rib segments cut on a laser-cutter. The shape of the wing was then finished using a heat shrink wrap that was formed with a hot plate. The rest of the body was cut out of a lightweight foamboard and hot glued together. The propellor was attached to a brushless dc motor with a custom 3D-Printed mount at the nose, and, servo motors were attached to actuation points for the elevator, rudder, and ailerons.

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Reflection

Our biggest challenge with this project was the attachment of our servo motors to actuate the flight controls. If I were to take on this project again I would spend more time during the design process to flush out the placement and attachment electronics.