20220320 Drone Landing Platform Progress

Below are some images of one of the configurations of WAM-V Drone landing platform that the team has ideated.

Some of the requirements we set for the design were:

1) limited to no machining required

2) no alterations to the WAM-V platform

3) provide assurance that drone will not slip off platform

4) allow space for mounting batteries and electronics on the platform away form the water line of the WAM-V

These requirements were accomplished through:

1) utilizing 8020 extrusion and brackets to create the landing platform

2) attaching the platform to the WAM-V with ratchet straps

3) including pitched walls on the edges of the platform

4) elevate the landing platform to accommodate space for the electronics

Isometric and top view of the WAM-V Configuration

Link to 3D model: Here

Restricting sideways movement of the drone landing platform by placing extrusion onto side rails

illustrating front ratchet strap in CAD securing platform onto WAM-V

Picture of front ratchet strap IRL securing platform onto WAM-V

illustrating back ratchet straps securing drone platform to WAM-V

illustrating back ratchet straps securing drone platform to WAM-V IRL

Isometric view of drone landing platform without WAM-V

Link to the interactive 3D model here

front and back view of drone landing platform without WAM-V

top and bottom view of drone landing platform without WAM-V

side view of drone landing platform without WAM-V

After getting the design reviewed by one of our mentors, Kevin Bower, we saw:

1) Ratchet straps are not a good permanent solution as they can expand and contract. Usage of straps take away from the craftmanship of the WAM-V. We can replace the ratchet straps with metal pieces or drill into the WAM-V platform and secure the drone landing platform into the WAM-V with bolts.

2) The pitched walls will provide very little in securing the drone onto the platform. Actuators that clasp the drone when landed would be more effective keeping the drone on the platform. This is similar to Planck Areosystems design for their line of products:

Plank Aerosystems Forward Imagery Project (image links out to demo video)