Novel Bacterial Cellulose-Based Materials and Fabrication Techniques for UAV Construction
Abstract
The purpose of this project is to attempt to replace individual components of a UAV with components created through the use of bacterial cellulose (BC) based materials. We will attempt to produce the BC by using the Gluconacetobacter hansenii bacterial culture. The bacterial culture will be used in combination with yeast, tea, and sugar to create a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY), which forms as a gel-like substance if the aforementioned mixture is set out to develop over a period of time. The SCOBY will be drained, dried, and sterilized of bacteria, after which we will treat the SCOBY with different chemical additives and test the effect of these additives on the material qualities of the SCOBY. We will also investigate the use of chemical additives during the growth process of the SCOBY, as well as the subsequent effect of these additives on the material qualities and growth rates of the SCOBY. Such chemical additives include (at the time of writing): Acetone, Acetic Anhydride, Acetic Acid Glacial, Citric Acid, H2SO4, MgSO4, NaOH, Na2SO4, ETDA, Distilled Vinegar, Canola Oil, Hemp Fibers, and Cornstarch-Based Glue. A combination of chemical additives and various drying techniques will be employed in order to create four different BC based materials, which are outlined in the proposal below. We will then use a variety of methods and machines (such as a CNC machine, press, 3D printer, and vacuum forming machine) to shape these materials into UAV structural components, and hence construct a fully functional UAV. Throughout the engineering process, data will be collected and testing conducted to determine the most useful chemical additives (fillers), the maximum rigidity and shear stress each BC-based material is capable of, and the conductivity of each BC-based material. Success in this project will allow the military to forego the expense of buying and shipping fully-constructed UAVs to points of need, and will allow the military to instead produce and construct UAVs directly on-site. Cost to the military would be greatly reduced through use of BC-based materials, as the military would only need to ship required machines once to each site of need and acquire required chemical components in bulk only every so often in order to produce an extremely large number of UAVs, with the optimized growth rate of the SCOBY being the only limiting factor. Due to the biodegradable nature of BC, the use of BC-based materials in UAVs would also have a positive impact on the environment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2019
- Source ID
- W911NF1910196
Entities
People
- Justyn Jaworski
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of Texas at Arlington