the gels available require heat curing
for a specific amount of time. In most
cases, the heat required is so hot it
will bake the electronics. The team will
need to experiment with a variety of
gels before deciding which one to
stick with.
Ground Station,
Endurance
Experiments
The QuadForge Black Bat and
other quad rotor UAVs run from a
single ground station: the
ArduMission planner. The ArduMission
planner is a powerful piece of
software offering seamless
communication between pilot and
aircraft. Using point and click
placement of waypoints and
commands, the ArduMission planner
simplifies the task of programming
autonomous flights.
The planner offers a range of
commands for a quad to accomplish a
variety of jobs. From loitering to
following a GPS waypoint, the
ArduMission planner is a convenient
and powerful way to manage
autonomous flights, according to the
QuadForge team. This particular
ArduMission planner brings the most
important pilot information for
efficient and intuitive flights to the
forefront using real time telemetry
data.
The team uses the software to
keep logs of every flight. That way,
pilots can look back on missions and
analyze the strengths and
weaknesses of the flight platforms.
The software presents the log data
graphically in easy to read diagrams
and graphs.
The short-lived endurance of a
vertical takeoff and landing quad
rotor UAV is an increasing barrier to
the platform as the vehicles become
more common. Researchers like the
The Blackbat quad rotor VTOL
UAV platform continues to evolve as it
becomes in-air support for weather
research and other applications. SV
SERVO 03.2014 13
From CAD to 3D for
Black Bat Parts
The Black Bat parts are created
as images in CAD software and
printed on 3D printers. The printer
the QuadForge team uses applies
spools of very thin plastic wiring to
lay out the 3D image. "It works like a
hot glue gun if you were to use it to
build something from the bottom
up," a team member explained.
The 3D printer feeds this plastic
wire through a hot chamber that
melts it and lays it down layer by
layer on a tray in the machine until
the piece is complete. When using
CAD software, you are creating 3D
images on a 2D surface. Certain
things may be overlooked during
the design process, so sometimes a
part has to be redesigned. There is a
lot of trial and error involved for the
QuadForge team.
All photos courtesy of Sandi Yanisko/
Montgomery County Community College.