Unmanned Aerial Systems Prototyping
The MIX Drone prototyping workshop series will return for Fall 2024! For the last four semesters, the MIX has hosted a 9-week unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) prototyping short course that provides students the opportunity to learn the fundamental introductory concepts related to UAVs and advanced manufacturing through hands-on experience building. Students learn basic concepts in mechanical systems, microcontrollers, computer vision, aircraft dynamics, and their integration to build a drone. After successful completion of this course, students earn a digital micro-credential from GMU to put on your resume.
For Spring 2024, and different from previous semesters, participants built the drone airframe "from scratch" instead of assembling an off-the-shelf frame where students learned the skills to create their own, in part using the resources available at the MIX, such as soldering and 3D printing.
Working in small teams of six, in Sessions 1-3 students assemble a baseline drone and learn the basics of working with the technology. By session 3, students have assembled their baseline drone and test flown it indoors in the MIX. Sessions 3-6 introduce topics related to extending the assembled drones. Sessions 7-8 focus on testing activities in pursuit of recording their accomplishment of "mini-challenges". The final Session 9 will be a "poster session"/"science fair" where each team will have a display to showcase their work and conduct a demonstration of their drone’s flying ability.
In past semesters, this has been an interdisciplinary program, in which there were 30 students representing 19 different majors. Enthusiastic participants from all majors, departments, and schools are encouraged to apply.
The workshops, held on Thursdays at the MIX, will begin for the Fall semester on Thursday, Sept. 19 and will be held every Thursday from 5:00-7:30PM, and run for 9 weeks with final presentations held November 14. Some sessions may end early, but will use the full length of time for the build sessions.
Applications are open with a deadline of Sunday, Sept. 15 at midnight. A notice of acceptance to chosen students will be sent by the end of day, Monday, Sept. 16.
“I had so much fun learning all about drones and having this wonderful experience!”
Fall 2024 9 WEEK COURSE OUTLINE:
September 19 - Week 1: Kickoff, intro Drone technology and history, Lab: Intro to Arduino, PWM with a servo, Ultrasonic distance measurement (2.5 hours)
September 26 - Week 2: Intro to proportional–integral–derivative controllers (PIDs), Intro to IMU sensors, Lab: Build a balance beam to demonstrate PID’s, Arduinos/ Servos (2.5 hours)
October 3 - Week 3: Power system of a drone, Lab: Soldering, begin drone assembly (2.5 hours)
October 10 - Week 4: Flight controllers and how it integrates, Lab: Assemble drone frame, Integrate ESC’s to controller (2.5 hours)
October 17 - Week 5: Radio & flight controller programming, Lab: Radio Pairing with drone, Load software on the flight controller, test (2.5 hours)
October 24 - Week 6: Safety briefing, Lab: Final drone preparations and test flights (2.5 hours)
October 31 - Week 7: Testing and flight training (2.5 hours) *potential to be Outdoors
November 7 - Week 8: Testing and flight training; Practice demonstrations, pitch presentations to fellow teams (2 hours)
November 14 - Week 9: - Final Technical Presentations and flight demo to judging panel (2 hours)