The brief
Develop a fixed-wing aircraft for terrain mapping and 3D surveying. Stable, low-speed flight helps the imaging payload collect sharp, overlapping photographs.
Choosing the architecture
The design pairs a twin-boom layout with a 29 cc gasoline powerplant and a two-hour endurance target. Propulsion, payload packaging, and slow-flight behavior all influence the shape of the aircraft.
Making the structure practical
The internal structure evolved from a welded I-beam concept to an interlocking slat arrangement. The design change addressed fabrication and assembly complexity: members slot together and are joined with spot welds and standard brackets.
Bringing the surfaces together
The carbon-Innegra shell is designed around 3D-printed layup molds. An acrylic nose cone protects the optical payload while preserving its field of view. These are manufacturing and sensor-integration decisions as much as styling decisions.
