Afzal Mk.I Quadcopter Drone
Quick Facts
| Date: | July 2018 - August 2021 |
|---|---|
| Cost: | ~$200 |
This project consisted of a medium-sized quadcopter drone, controlled via an Arduino microcontroller and stabilized via an onboard gyro. It is controlled via a handheld radio controller. The drone has an auto-level feature, where it will level itself when the sticks are released. The project began in the summer of 2018 and finished in early 2020.
In 2021, I added a rocket onto the top. This involved enclosing the electronics to protect them from the rocket exhaust. Next, I added an onboard 9V battery and transistor wired into the rocket's electric igniter allowing the Arduino controller to set it off midflight. This feature was linked to the radio controller so that at the flip of a switch the rocket would launch. Finally, I designed, and 3D printed a mount for the rocket's blast plate and launch rod, which I bolted to the top of the drone. This modification took place starting in the last few months of 12th grade, and the launch took place in August 2021. Fig. 2 shows the rocket launching mid-flight. The new, black box holding all electronics can be seen, as well as the launch rod sticking out the top.
