Additively manufactured lightweight monitoring drones: Design and experimental investigation. (15th February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Palomba, Giulia; Crupi, Vincenzo; Epasto, Gabriella
• Is Part Of: Polymer. Volume 241(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-02-15
• Subjects: Additive manufacturing -- Lightweight design -- Cellular structures; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Périodiques; Polymérisation -- Périodiques; 547.7
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2022.124557
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-3861

Abstract

Abstract: Surveillance of hardly accessible areas is one of the most attractive perspectives for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) application. Drones destined to ecosystems and environment surveillance must guarantee reliable flights, resistance to the specific environment, protection for the on-board devices and lightweight properties to be easily handled and carry all the required devices. Therefore, drone frames characteristics have a significant impact on the overall functionality of the vehicle. The current study suggests innovative lightweight design solutions for quadcopter drones destined for ecosystem surveillance. Different cellular structures and arrangements were analysed and compared. The application of additive manufacturing technologies was considered to produce the main structural components, with the aim of obtaining complex and highly customizable geometries. An experimental investigation was performed on specimens of two different cellular structures. Based on the experimental results, a concept of the final drone design was suggested. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Drones require lightweight structural parts to maximize their performance. Two lightweight cellular structures were suggested for a quadcopter frame design. Compression and impact tests were performed on PLA additive manufactured specimens. Material and manufacturing technique affect the mechanical response.