Airframe:
Our current airframe for the 2004-2005 year is an 84" custom-cut foam delta wing (see picture to the right). The aircraft is powered by a brushless electric motor and lithium-polymer battery system. It has been slightly modified for our purposes to fit our variety of sensors, computers, and video payload.
Sensors, CPU, and Video :
Our flight computer this year consists of an IPAQ 2215 PDA running Microsoft Windows Mobile Edition. The PDA will run high level mission management code and handle communication with the ground station via a Maxtream 1Watt 9XTend 900Mhz RF modems. Commands are passed from the PDA to a Micropilot MP2028 autopilot kit, which will handle low level commands and maintain flight stabilization and altitude. Sensors onboard include a GPS, 3-axis gyroscope, and pressure sensors for altitude and airspeed.
Images and video from the plane are transmitted over a 1 Watt Blackwidow 2.4ghz telemetry system where it is digitized and analyzed in real time on the ground. The camera system can be controlled from the ground, or autonomously, to maintain a steady view of ground targets using a 2-axis servo system.
