Mechanical Engineering Capstone, Team Lead
AME 4553 - Design Practicum (Spring 2026)
THE CHALLENGE:
Contributed to the design and integration of a quadcopter prototype for aerial scouting and target identification, supported by propulsion trade studies, single-motor testing, and electrical integration checks.
The Sooner Rover Team needed an aerial platform to support the University Rover Challenge Extreme Delivery Mission. The design had to balance payload, endurance, communications, and a mass limit below 5 kg while remaining practical for a student team to build, maintain, and develop further.
THE SOLUTION:
The team compared quadcopter and hexacopter arrangements, propeller diameters from 8 to 15 inches, and 4S versus 6S batteries. The selected configuration used four 10-inch propellers, 900 KV brushless motors, and a 6S lithium-polymer battery. Analytical thrust and endurance estimates informed component selection and the propulsion test plan.
The architecture divided flight stabilization and higher-level computing between a MicoAir H743 flight controller running PX4 and an Orange Pi 5 companion computer. QGroundControl supported configuration and system monitoring. This separation provided a foundation for camera processing, networking, and future mission functions.
A borrowed single-motor test stand allowed the team to compare measured thrust trends with analytical estimates. Five trials were conducted at approximately 22 V. Bench testing then verified that all four motors responded to commands through the flight controller and electronic speed controller.
RESULTS + NEXT STEPS:
The team assembled the prototype and completed preliminary propulsion and electrical testing. Single-motor measurements generally agreed with the design estimates, while the test setup’s alignment and measurement limitations remained relevant to interpretation. Endurance, communication range, and full-system flight stability had not been verified through flight testing at the final report date.
The next phase is a controlled flight-test program to measure hover performance, power consumption, endurance, and communication reliability before mission deployment.