Final Project — Autonomous Drone Station¶
Project Overview¶
My final project is an autonomous drone station for a multicopter drone, designed to support automatic takeoff, landing, and battery charging.
The station acts as a home base for the drone, allowing it to operate with minimal human interaction. It provides a stable landing platform, protects the drone when idle, and enables recharging without removing the battery.
At the current stage, the project is developed as a concept-driven prototype, supported by mechanical models created in Fusion 360. These models explore different design approaches and system layouts for the drone station.
Project Goals¶
The main goals of this project are:
- Design a drone station suitable for a multicopter
- Support automatic takeoff and landing
- Enable charging without manual battery removal
- Integrate mechanical design, electronics, and embedded programming
- Demonstrate a working prototype or functional subsystem
- Document the full development process clearly and systematically
Concept Development¶
During the design phase, I explored multiple concept variations of the drone station. Each concept focuses on different priorities such as size, protection, ease of fabrication, and system complexity.
The following sections describe these concepts and their intended functionality.
Concept 1¶
This concept shows an elevated drone station with an open top platform designed for automatic landing, takeoff, and charging. The raised structure improves ground clearance and visibility, while the opening side panels provide safe propeller clearance during operation. The design focuses on vertical access, compact footprint, and integration of charging and control electronics inside the base.
Concept 2¶
This concept is a compact enclosed drone station designed to support automatic takeoff, landing, and charging of a multicopter drone. The enclosure protects the drone when idle, while opening panels provide clearance for vertical takeoff and landing. The design is currently conceptual and focuses on enclosure geometry and motion rather than final fabrication details.
