Prototype 2

In week 7, we made the second prototype, nicknamed CHARM, making several changes:

  • Frame was changed to a smaller 250mm H-shaped frame
  • Flight controller changed to an F4 flight controller
  • Motor power was increased by changing motors and switching to a 4S battery
  • Assembly process was more tidy by using smoother soldering practices
Prototype 2: CHARM.
Group member Charmaine heads the assembly of the CHARM drone.

CHARM showed more promise in lab tests and flew with more stability, after further precision in calibrating the PID settings.

After the success of CHARM, in the lab, we started testing our extensions to the drone, namely improved navigation methods (adding First-Person View) and package loading capabilities.

The drone is fitted with a small camera for First-Person View navigation.

We then tested the drone in the field carrying loads up to 550g.

We did many test flights and they proved very promising. CHARM was able to fly with a 500g load in stable conditions and land safely.

First-person view from the drone’s camera