Arrow
 
Helicopter Landing Array
Waterloo Aerial Robotics Group
Engineering Design (2000)
Time: 4 weeks
Techniques: engineering design, CAD, manufacturing, project management
Tools: solidworks, machine shop, milling machine, lathe, pipe bender, saw
Team: designer / mechanical manager (my role), intern

Design Objective:
Design and build a landing array and computer enclosure for an unmanned helicopter. The assembly must be lightweight and protect the helicopter and computer in the event of a crash. The components are to be shipped in pieces so they must be easily assembled.

Design Solution:
The landing array is built by bending lightweight aluminum tubing. The onboard computer is mounted inside the enclosure which is then suspended by wire to isolate it from impact forces. A re-bending jig was also designed to bend crashed frames into a usable form.

Result:
The array protected the computer equipment after a computer error forced an unpowered crash landing from 10 meters in the air. The design was also featured on the Discovery Channel.

 
SolidWorks model of the landing array
WARG autonomous helicopter in flight
Links:
Waterloo Aerial Robotics Group
International Aerial Robotics Competiton
Designed for easy dissassembly for shipment