Research & Development (R&D) Division

The Manufacturing team works with the other product teams to ensure consistency between manufacturing. This team works with on-campus resources to construct the physical parts of the VTOL system through utilization of composites and additive manufacturing. The team meets with design engineers throughout the division to ensure effective design for manufacturing.

The Avionics team creates the onboard systems to conduct the VTOL flight. This is performed simultaneously using off the shelf flight controllers mixed with custom solutions. The avionics system architecture uses parameter based flight controls to work through iterative and modular testing for R&D airframes. The avionics team is tasked with ensuring a reliable and repeatable transition between vertical and horizontal flight for implementation onto a competition system.

The Testing team is designed to effectively and repeatably conduct tests for the R&D division. Throughout R&D's development process, every iteration of deign will be tested. The testing team is in charge of consistency between these tests and effective data gathering to successfully run a research environment.

The Mechanical Systems team is in charge of all moving parts within a VTOL. This includes motor mounts that move during flight transition as well as landing gear. The mechanical systems team is in charge of ensuring reliable mechanics on the airframe to allow for effective research based development.

SP&I aims to develop innovative technologies we hope to test on R&D aircraft. By rapidly prototyping, SP&I works on many projects at once— from unique wing structures to safe recovery systems. This team aims to find the intersection between what is possible and what is feasible with never-before-seen products.