Experimentation of a latching mechanism for perching UAVs

• Main Author: Sim, Benedict Jing Xiong.
• Other Authors: Low Kin Huat
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Aeronautical engineering::Aircraft
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/45729
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The study of UAVs with perching capabilities is still new and ongoing. DSO has collaborated with NTU to work on a three year project to develop a perching UAV. For the Perching Concept Development team, three NTU undergraduates would be working together to focus on different aspects of the perching concepts, mainly Design, Development and Testing. This report focuses on the testing and experimentation of the perching mechanism. Other than designing and developing suitable experimental setups, the experiment testing facility has incorporated the Vicon Motion Capture System to aid in the tracking of the perching mechanism to conduct the tests and derive useful information to provide the improvements to the perching mechanism. Tests have been done to compare the relationship between the success rate of engagement and the location of impact along the trigger of the test specimen. Analysis has shown a 34% confidence level of successful perch based on the test specimen.