Team Aero-Watt designs and manufactures autonomous unmanned aircraft systems for competitive aerospace challenges. They specialize in developing advanced VTOL capabilities and proprietary mission planning software to optimize flight performance and mission success.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Developing autonomous unmanned aircraft for competitive challenges requires specialized expertise in aerodynamic design, flight control systems, and mission planning software. Teams often face limitations in integrating advanced capabilities like vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) and optimizing flight paths for complex mission objectives.
Solution
Team Aero-Watt designs, tests, and manufactures autonomous unmanned aircraft systems tailored for competitive aerospace challenges, specifically the IMechE UAS Challenge. The team focuses on developing advanced VTOL capabilities and proprietary mission planning software to enhance aircraft performance and mission success. This approach allows for the practical application of aerospace engineering principles, including airframe design, propulsion integration, and autonomous navigation algorithms. The team's iterative development process, demonstrated by continuous improvement in competition rankings and awards, highlights their commitment to innovation in unmanned aerial vehicle technology.
Target Audience
The primary audience consists of engineering students and academic institutions participating in or interested in unmanned aircraft system (UAS) design and competitive challenges.
Features
- Design and fabrication of fixed-wing and VTOL unmanned aircraft systems with airframe weights up to 10kg.
- Integration of high-lift devices such as flaps and slats to achieve rapid take-off capabilities.
- Development of proprietary mission planning software, "Waypoint Maker," for autonomous navigation and flight path optimization.
- Implementation of autonomous flight control systems enabling fully autonomous flight operations.
- Focus on achieving high thrust-to-weight ratios (e.g., 1.4) for enhanced performance.
- Iterative design process with a track record of competition success, including innovation and media awards.
- Airframe weight reduction strategies to improve flight time and payload capacity.