MIT Model Airplane Design Project

grabcad

I created a fun group project to help my MIT team redesign a model RC plane. We had access to many rapid prototyping machines and tools. Anybody was welcome to help by adding an updated version/revision of this model. My group analyzed ideas/models and built many of them. Some ideas we explored: - Enlarge wings - Add landing gear - Add larger horizontal and vertical stabilizers (with elevators and rudder assembly) - Add cockpit area (holding 1-3 batteries and ESC) - Add ailerons, flaps, dihedral wing shape - Add either a single front motor or two wing-mounted motors - Design the bomb-bay door for coke can deployment - Add some form of shock absorber to the front (for crashworthiness) - Add steerable rear wheel for taxiing (could use same servo as for rudder) - Add whatever crazy add-ons you want! CONSTRAINTS (We didn't have many!): - Approx 10/1 aspect ratio - Radian plane ~800 grams. Must lift off with plane weight + ~350 gram coke can. (So over 1,150 grams-- likely closer to 1500g+ with addition of landing gear/additional motor/battery) - Finished plane must disassemble to fit in 6"x18"x46" box - Very slow stall speed EXPLANATION OF THE PROJECT: This is a model we developed in a "Rapid Prototyping and Design" class at MIT. The course took place from 1/17-1/25 2012. Seven MIT students were split into 3 groups (2,2,3) and were given an RC plane. We flew them (and crashed them) on the first day. We had 8 days to completely redesign and prototype a new version of the airplane. Cost was of little concern. The model isn't too detailed nor complete, but the whole process was quite interesting! My group created a 2m wingspan RC plane capable of take-off, stable flight and landing. Also, we imposed an interesting challenge on ourselves; We wanted to be able to take off with a coke can embedded in a "bomb bay" and then be able to drop the full coke can onto a target while flying.