Team: 28
School: Los Alamos High
Area of Science: Engineering
Interim: Problem:
In the last decade, the idea of having packages delivered via autonomous drones has become very popular. Continual advancements in computational and aerospace technology make this goal easier to achieve each year. The successful implementation of delivery drones could have many benefits. The need for delivery drivers could be eliminated, and deliveries would be much faster. The trillion-dollar company Amazon has already developed UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) that are capable of transporting packages from a warehouse to a nearby location. However, these deliveries are currently quite expensive. Amazon’s current generation of delivery drones cost an estimated $146,000 per unit, and deliveries are expected to cost Amazon a whopping $63 per package.
Solution:
The goal of this project is to develop an inexpensive drone capable of autonomously transporting a small package from one location to another. The drone should be capable of taking off with the package attached, flying to a preset destination, dropping the package, and returning to the takeoff location, all completely autonomously. However, the pilot should always be able to resume control of the drone if something goes wrong. Furthermore, an attached camera will allow the drone to record video and potentially allow the package to be placed on an exact target. The drone will utilize a hobby-grade flight controller and a raspberry pi running a python script.
Progress to Date:
As of now, the drone has been fully constructed using hobby-grade components and 3D-printed parts. It is equipped with a carbon fiber frame, brushless motors, and electronic speed controllers to properly power these motors. A sonar sensor tells the drone its distance above the ground, and a GPS module provides location data. The mechanism to hold the package consists of a 3D-printed hook attached to a servo, and a second servo acts as a locking mechanism to hold the hook closed. A downwards-facing camera is also present for recording video. The hobby grade flight controller can navigate to a given location and keep the drone stable, all while having a connection to a remote controller. The raspberry pi communicates with the flight controller, and it sends coordinates, controls the camera, and saves received data.
Under manual control, the drone is very stable in the air and flies successfully. Unfortunately, the current flight controller isn’t capable of utilizing the sonar sensor, so a new flight controller will be needed. The inability to use the sonar sensor resulted in poor altitude control during attempts at an autonomous flight.
Expected Results
Once a new flight controller is installed, I expect the drone will be able to successfully transport an attached package autonomously. Furthermore, there are some additional features that I hope to implement soon. The delivery location could easily be set using Google Maps, and the raspberry pi could collect more data. The camera could also be used for computer vision tracking, allowing the drone to deliver to a much more precise location than is possible with GPS.
Works Cited
“ArduPilot.†ArduPilot.org, ardupilot.org. Accessed 8 Oct. 2022.
Dean, Grace. “Drone Racing: Everything You Need to Know.†Space.com, 7 Dec. 2021, www.space.com/drone-racing-explained.
Haselton, Todd. “Amazon Says It Will Begin Delivering Packages by Drone in California Later This Year.†CNBC, 13 June 2022, www.cnbc.com/2022/06/13/amazon-to-begin-prime-air-drone-deliveries-in-california-this-year.html.
Iddenden, George. “Amazon’s Drone Delivery Will Cost the Company $63 per Drop.†Latest Retail Technology News From Across the Globe - Charged, 8 Apr. 2022, www.chargedretail.co.uk/2022/04/08/amazon-prime-air-drone-delivery.
MaxAmps Lithium Batteries. “Lithium Polymer Charging/Discharging and Safety Information.†MaxAmps Lithium Batteries, maxamps.com/pages/lipo-care-php. Accessed 8 Oct. 2022.
OpenCV. “About.†OpenCV, 4 Nov. 2020, opencv.org/about.
“Recreational Flyers and Modeler Community-Based Organizations.†Federal Aviation Administration, www.faa.gov/uas. Accessed 8 Oct. 2022.
“Unify Design, Engineering, Electronics, and Manufacturing With Fusion 360.†Autodesk, www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/overview?term=1-YEAR&tab=subscription. Accessed 8 Oct. 2022.
“What Is a Raspberry Pi?†Opensource.com, opensource.com/resources/raspberry-pi. Accessed 8 Oct. 2022.
Mentor: Clint Hubbard
Team Members:
Sponsoring Teacher: NA