1. Executive Summary
December was a decisive month for finalizing the dev-kit design and navigating the regulatory landscape. Critical hardware issues related to CAN and GPS were resolved, IP53 rating was established with plans to improve with further testing, and the design frozen to include new sensor locations and proper aluminum thickness for safe operations with a heavy payload.
Further research into EASA C3 certification presented some roadblock for the dev-kit in the European market. This has led to a pivot in prioritizing a US commercial release first while still weighing the options for an EU distribution.
Due to the holidays, time constraints, and poor testing conditions, the timeline has been adjusted to accommodate manufacturing dates, beta testing, and final delivery. The Quiver dev-kit is now slated for release in February.
2. Project Progress
Team Formation
The Project Quiver team remained the same for December with updates to the weekly commitment hours for the holiday season:
| Member | Experience Level | Team | Weekly Commitment (hrs) | Areas of Expertise / Championed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21stCenturyAlex | Level 3 | Core | 20 | Avionics |
| alperenag | Level 4 | Core | 28 | Project Co-Lead |
| Dow Fisher KBM | Level 3 | Core | 15 | FEA, Systems Engineering |
| errrks.eth | Level 4 | Core | 35 | Project Co-Lead |
| Julius | Level 4 | Core | 20 | PCB Layout, Power Storage, Prototyping, Propulsion System, Electrical Communication |
| ZeynepB | Level 4 | Core | 30 | Flight Mechanics, Flight Test |
| kjcerveny | Level 3 | Contributor | 5 | Electrical design, System testing, Product development |
Progress Summary
Mechanical & Structural
Focus on mechanical changes centered around waterproofing, payload capacity, and the transport case. An additional prototype unit was fully assembled in West Texas to support upcoming testing. The waterproof design was validated with a garden hose and spray testing confirmed an IP53 rating. There remains a risk on ingress near the battery connector but the team has concluded that limiting the operational conditions will allow continued safe operation. A final design modification to the 3D printed lids will be tested to implement a sturdier latch and a trench for liquid silicon to create a tighter seal. Further updates to the 3D print design included integrated anchors to improve cable routing , and the radar altimeter and camera mounts were swapped to optimize internal spacing.
A heavy payload test revealed that a thinner bottom plated led to oscillations which directed the team to move forward with a 4mm thick plate for the dev-kit. Additionally, testing of the 25mm landing gear was completed, clearing the way to order the custom 30mm version. The transport case presented many challenges throughout the month. Notably, the drone is too tall for standard hard cases. Rather than source a custom design, a custom 3D printed protective cap for the camera will be used and the battery removed during transport to prevent damage.
Electrical
The main PCB architecture was updated to include a secondary power supply specifically for the flight controller to ensure redundancy. Further design changes included adding filter capacitors, integrating a requested status LED, and repositioning connectors to optimize internal cabling routes. Orders were placed for 15 sets of these updated PCBs. Additionally, a critical issue with the CAN bus splitter affecting GPS performance was identified and resolved by removing the splitter.
Software
Software development saw the successful implementation of a Software In The Loop (SITL) simulation, allowing the team to tune the obstacle avoidance parameters safely before field testing. The Raspberry Pi telemetry pipeline was tested further, with data successfully passing from the flight controller to the RPI, and a basic GUI created for testing. Regarding Ground Control Software, the team decided against developing a custom Mission Planner skin due to scope creep, opting to stick with standard QGroundControl or Mission Planner for the dev kit.
Regulation
Consultation held with EU Drone Port to help develop a better understanding of what is required for obtaining an EASA C3 certification. The €17k-20k cost along with the requirement for a frozen design, rigorous testing, and timing has shifted the focus temporarily to the US market. Classification of the European release as a prototype or R&D kit is under review
3. Major Studies
The following studies are on going and information notes will be created upon completion:
- Design changes for cockpit waterproofing and dustproofing
- Obstacle avoidance tuning
- Quiver payload SDK
- CAD changes for transport case
- PCB updates
- Ethernet Integration and setup
- Structural weight reduction robustness test results
- SITL simulation results
4. Goals for Next Month
- Order custom 30mm landing gear
- Continue flight testing and record endurance and heavy payload limitations.
- Finalize obstacle avoidance system.
- Finalize RPI integration.
- Conduct waterproof testing with silicon seal.
- Test SIYI MK32 RC.
- Test and integrate RemoteID.
- Place order for multiple transport cases.
- Assemble and ship PCBs.
- Place order for structural components.
- Prepare all dev-kit documentation.
- FAA registration
- Harness and wiring model
5. Budget & Resource Allocation
- Project Expenses:
$324.75 was reimbursed for Fusion 360 tokens
Link - Team Members Compensation
The project team was compensated for $32,947.00. The breakdown can be found here. - Total
The total expense of Project Quiver in December was $33,271.75.00 which is below the monthly maximum spending cap. In addition, the team members received 18,304 $ARROW in total as part of their compensations.