Session 9

We spoke with an engineer who pointed out a potential issue with the gripper. He advised us to move our gears closer to the endless screw.

We also discussed how to attach the gripper to the drone, as we’re nearing the end of the project. However, we had a misunderstanding, and our current idea turned out to be unfeasible, so we’ll work on finding a new solution in the next class.

Lastly, we need to rework how the endless screw is attached.

We’ll add the final designs here later.



Session 8

We researched the different types of screws and submitted a request to our school to order them. We also made the necessary modifications to the gripper; now we just need to print and assemble it to see if everything works as intended. In addition, we researched servo motors and modified the servo horn so we can attach it to the gear screw.

Session 7

After printing all our parts, we tested the box where we plan to place our various components. However, it turned out to be a bit too small to fit everything inside. As for the gripper, we tried assembling it to check if everything fit properly, and we took all the necessary measurements to order the different screws required for assembly. However, we need to modify the main body in order to attach the gripper arm to the gear, as its current design interferes with the gripper’s movement.

Session 6 -  3D Printing

We worked on designing a part that could be attached around the drone to hold our gripper. We also completed the gripper, and both parts were 3D printed. You can see the design in the attached files.

Here are our inspirations/sources for our gripper:

We also opened the drone because we want to create a small opening where the camera is located, in order to move it.

Session 5 - 

We decided that we will focus on the hook, because we can't hack the drone. We made two different designs for the hook.

Session 4 - Exploring Drone Reprogramming / Making The Clamp

We spoke with Vladimir Hermand, who guided us toward using the already existing drone. We also looked into whether we could reprogram some of the remote's commands but it might be simpler to use a different remote control for the clamp.

We have started designing a four-hook clamp in SolidWorks, which we’ll 3D print later, and we’re testing the AI from the previous session using QR codes.

Session 3 - FPV Drone Assembly Research

During our third session, we continued our research and found the video “Building a 5-inch FPV drone from €250 - Part 2/4: Full Assembly | Affordable FPV Drone,” which is a four-part guide on assembling a drone. This could serve as a base for adding functionalities.

However, we are still debating whether to build a drone from scratch or modify an existing one. To help us decide, we created a pros and cons list:

Using the Workshop Drone
Pros:

  • Time-saving – No need to design the entire system or deal with fundamental issues (stabilization, control).
  • Reliability – The base drone already works properly.
  • Less complexity – We can focus on necessary modifications (adding sensors, software).
  • Potentially lower cost – Buying a commercial drone and modifying it could be cheaper than purchasing all components separately.
  • Technical support – Some drones have documentation and active communities for troubleshooting.

Cons:

  • Less flexibility – The base drone imposes limitations (weight support, connectivity, compatibility with new sensors).
  • Limited modification possibilities.
  • Dependence on the existing model.

Building a Drone from Scratch
Pros:

  • Complete customization – We can select components tailored to our specific needs (motor power, sensor types, communication system).
  • Better technical understanding – Designing the drone from the ground up helps us gain a deeper understanding of its workings.
  • Scalability – Easier to modify or add components later on.

Cons:...

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