Purdue team selected as semi-finalists for sUAS design competition sponsored by DHS

Left to Right: Philip Baldwin, Finu Lukose, Eric Maglio, Lloyd Strohl, Dr. John Sullivan, Nicolaus Caniza, Stephen Bachhuber, Michael Munizzi, Adam Loesch, and Haogong Wei.

Congratulations to Dr. John Sullivan and the fall 2012 AAE 590 Design Build Test class. The team of twenty undergraduate students designed and proposed a Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) to the BORDERS SUAS design competition. The team’s proposal has been selected for funding and was recently awarded a $30,000 grant to continue researching and developing a solution.

The sUAS competition was held through The National Center for Border Security and Immigration (BORDERS) which is a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Center of Excellence led by The University of Arizona.

In order to provide proof of concept, the team designed, built, and flight tested two scaled prototypes: a twin boom configuration and a Vertical Take-off and Landing configuration. Some of the technologies that these models utilized include: an on board auto pilot system, ducted fan propulsion units, fiberglass structures, and sectional modularity for rapid deployment. These two platforms proved to be exceptional solutions to the original specifications in the DHS’s request for proposal.

In addition to the technologies on the scaled prototypes, the final product will feature: a ducted fan propulsion unit with acoustic stealth, carbon fiber structures, retractable landing gear, an Electro-Optical/Infra-Red sensor with a live video feed, diesel hybrid-electric system, beyond line of sight capabilities, ground control station capable of first-person flight or map-based waypoint control, and integration into the National Aerospace System using Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast.

The student’s goal through the spring semester is to build a full scale prototype for the final round of the competition. The final round consists of a final presentation and flight demonstration presented to DHS officials in late April 2013.

In addition to Purdue, Oklahoma State University, Saint Louis University, and Texas A&M University were selected as the four finalists to receive funding.

Not Pictured: Rubin Cholera, Michael Dziuba, Christopher Menchaca, Li Pan, Weixiao Shang, Nickolas Sinopoli, Cody Tyler, Saagar Unadkat, Nikhil Varma, Christian Vuong, and Andy Yu.