SNAP Drone: Modular 3D Printed Packable Quadcopter Assembled in a Snap
Abstract
Army soldiers operate small quadcopter-type unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in missions that are dynamic and time critical applications such as providing an additional eye in the sky, surveying and mapping. It is important in these situations for the soldier to be able to quickly assemble, disassemble and replace broken components. In the typical assembly (or repair) process, wires must be run the length of the quadcopter arms from the central hub to each motor. In a dynamic situation, assembly or repair of a drone by this method could be near impossible. To help remedy this problem we propose use of smarter design and manufacturing principles with 3D printing technology that embeds wiring and provides standardized interfaces between components. Modifications will be made to typical 3D printing processes to provide a pause in the print cycle to allow for embedding of wiring. Components will be printed with light-weight filaments that exhibit negligible warping properties, enabling us to achieve snappable and press-fit mating of physical interfaces without compromising on performance. Our proposed designs and processes will enable a quadcopter to be put together in seconds with components that simply press-fit or snap together with a minimum number of required fasteners. Use of simple processes and highly available consumables will help to ensure repeatability in manufacturing across various sites.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 21, 2019
- Source ID
- W911NF1910189
Entities
People
- Patrick Benavidez
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of Texas at San Antonio