Search to Rescue Craft
Senior Design Project, University of Pennsylvania, 2011-2012
In the event of a natural disaster, communication and transportation networks are often disabled, rendering victims stranded and in need of supplies. Remote military outposts are similarly hard to reach but frequently find themselves in need of resupply. The current solution to both of these problems is to deliver supplies by helicopter, exposing air crews to the potential for injury and death. This project explores the use of an aircraft to autonomously, accurately, and safely deliver a payload to a specified GPS location.
Hardware and Software
Learn more about our aircraft, design, electronics, and software.
Simulation and Controls
Learn more about our airplane dynamics simulation and controls model.
Evaluation and Test
Learn more about our flight testing, evaluation, and results.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the following individuals and groups that made this project possible:
- Dr. Bruce Kothmann, (Advisor) Senior Lecturer, MEAM
- Dr. Robert Jeffcoat, Senior Design Professor, MEAM
- Dr. Ken Laker, Senior Design Professor, ESE
- Jonathan Fiene, Director of Laboratory Programs, MEAM
- Sid Deliwala, Undergraduate Laboratory Manager, ESE
- William Etter
- Matthew Piccoli
- Capt. James Gillespie, US Army Aeromedical Evacuation Pilot
- Dept. of Electrical and Systems Engineering
- Dept. of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics
- Penn Engineering
