Session: Research Posters

Paper Number: 165584

Design and Operation of a Drone Embedded Capsular Vehicle and Launching Mechanism for Long and Proximate Range Operations 

Airdrop is one of the most valuable operations due to its rapid response. Infantry and some heavy artilleries are airborne for rapid operations in the field. It plays a critical role in military operations, especially when the target region/area is remote, cluttered, and dynamically changing in its environments. Unlike conventional and fixed-wing aircraft such as UAVs, affordable and small-scale but manually controlled drones are popular in their more task-oriented mission applications. Multirotor UAVs with equipped cameras can operate for various missions in the battlefield, especially in their advanced proximity functions.  Recently, multirotor UAVs have been getting more attention due to their maneuverability, agility, and affordability. However, one of the most challenging aspects is the limited flight range and fuel efficiency since they are not aerodynamically designed, and battery lifetime doesn’t sustain for extended operations. Furthermore, even with onboard flight control systems, they become instantly unstable during airdrops or launches. This highlights the urgent need for a new design and operation of vehicles that combine the flexibility of multirotor UAVs and the fuel efficiency of more typical aircraft, especially when needing both long-range and proximate operations simultaneously. This research presents a uniquely designed capsular vehicle with a miniature multirotor inside. This combined system integrates the airdrop-able capsular vehicle and a multirotor UAV into a single system. The outer layer is a 3D-printed cone-shaped shell structure that opens remotely mid-flight by a human operator. When it opens, a dispatchable multirotor UAV inside the shell begins operating for proximate tasks. The release mechanism of the shell consists of springs and various electrical components. Another critical aspect is that multirotor UAVs are not designed to be airdropped since their frames are not aerodynamically designed. In other words, any erratic motions exerted on the frames quickly destabilize the whole system, and it is irrevocable. Likewise, the launcher follows the same principles of low costs and ease of testing by utilizing energy storage of high-tension rubber bands on a mass-rail system. The goal of the project is to determine the practicality of capsular vehicles, and the results will be established by the drone’s ability to exit the capsule mid-flight and the distance of the drone. The capsular vehicle would excel in completing objectives in extreme environments where fuel conservation, response time, and flexibility are critical. This work presents the design of the capsular vehicle, the launching mechanisms and implementation, and the actual flight of the capsular vehicle. In addition, the opening mechanism and the flight of the embedded multirotor are explained to compel the effectiveness and usefulness of the whole system. Soon, the actual field test for its range and dispatching mechanisms will be further investigated.

Presenting Author: Robert Shelton Tennessee Technological University

Presenting Author Biography: Robert Shelton is a Mechanical Engineering professional with a strong focus on innovation and problem-solving. He has experience in research, prototyping, and computational modeling, contributing to engineering solutions. Skilled in materials selection and precision manufacturing, he excels at optimizing mechanical performance and tackling complex challenges. Passionate about leveraging technology and creative thinking, he is a valuable asset to any engineering team.
Future Goals & Interests:
Passionate about advancing engineering solutions, Robert Shelton is interested in exploring new technology and applying innovative approaches to solve real-world challenges.

Authors:

Robert Shelton Tennessee Technological University
Cameron Johnson Tennessee Technological University
Matthew Vick Tennessee Technoloogical University
James Femi-Oyetoro Tennessee Technological University
Bruce Jo Tennessee Technological University