Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science Students' Summer Internship Takes Flight
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Throughout the summer, Colorado State University mechanical engineering and engineering science students have been busy designing and constructing an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), or autonomously flying airplane, as part of Colorado State's summer Space Grant program. A NASA-sponsored program, the ten-week internship provides undergraduate students with valuable research experience in aeronautics and space science.
From wheels to wings, seniors Chris Lawhorn, Allison Porter and Grant Rhoads, under the direction of project director Paul Wilbur and project adviser Hiroshi Sakurai, are designing and developing every aspect of a UAV within the constraints of a $1000 budget. A hodgepodge of materials, the airplane is constructed from lightweight carbon fibers, including golf club shafts, fiberglass and foam core.
"We had to research all the equations on aircraft dynamics and balance," said Chris about the design process. "None of us had any background in aerospace engineering; we had to teach ourselves how to engineer an aircraft, not just build it."
Equipped with sensors and computer chips, the plane will be capable of responding in-flight, without input from the ground. GPS mounted onboard will allow the plane to travel to and from preset coordinates, while radio controls will be fail-safe in the event the plane must be instantaneously switched from autonomous flight to manual control, an FAA regulation for aircraft of this type.
This is a collaborative effort between academia and industry. Rick Schoonover, Colorado State Alumnus and Vice President of local company Enginuity, is lending years of flying experience as radio control pilot of the experimental craft. His company, a partner of Woodward Governor and producer of high-pressure fuel injection technology, donated a new, more powerful engine to the team.
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An additional yet crucial design element, a digital camera mounted on the nose, will allow the plane to focus and capture images of predetermined objects. A challenge throughout the project, accommodating this feature required the reorientation of the new engine to the rear.
Useful in a multitude of industries, UAVs have proven their worth, from military reconnaissance to monitoring crop growth in Hawaiian coffee fields. Future commercial applications could include using the airplanes for wildlife monitoring, border patrol, search and rescue operations and airport surveillance.
Students have enjoyed the independence and creativity of following a project from the drawing board to airfield. "It is great to start a project from scratch," said team member Allison. "Most internships allow involvement in only a small part of a project already underway, this is something that is completely ours."
"Grant, Allison and Chris have put their whole hearts into this project," said Wilbur. "They have worked literally day and night to produce a terrific plane. I know they have learned a great deal."
The UAV is set to take flight later this month.
For more information on the Summer Space Grant program please visit the CSU Space Grant website at http://spacegrant.engr.colostate.edu/.