1. Executive Summary
November focused on the Quiver “dev-kit”. A Gantt chart was implemented to track improvements aimed at a December prototype. Key updates included applying DFM, incorporating design changes, testing obstacle avoidance, and integrating Raspberry Pi (RPI) for payload/data logging.
Despite notable progress, the timeline has been adjusted to accommodate delivery dates and a beta testing campaign. The Quiver dev-kit is now slated for release in mid January.
2. Project Progress
Team Formation
The Project Quiver team remained the same for November:
| Member | Experience Level | Team | Weekly Commitment (hrs) | Areas of Expertise / Championed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21stCenturyAlex | Level 3 | Core | 15 | 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 | 35 | PCB Layout, Power Storage, Prototyping, Propulsion System, Electrical Communication |
| kjcerveny | Level 3 | Contributor | 5 | Electrical design, System testing, Product development |
| ZeynepB | Level 4 | Core | 30 | Flight Mechanics, Flight Test |
Mechanical and electrical progress focused on improving the build for the developer kit. To improve assembly precision a newly designed 3D-printed drill jig was created. Enclosure manufacturing faced quality challenges with warping and poor adhesion in 3D printed parts, prompting design modifications to the joint interfaces and a potential shift to out sourced printing services. A final dust proofing strategy was confirmed, using a clear acrylic PCB coating paired with rubber grommets and potential silicone sealing. Electronics architecture was refined by increasing the power rating on the 5V bus to accommodate the Raspberry Pi and modem loads. Due to the extensive lead time for PCBs, a calculated risk of pre ordering components for 20 units was made.
After a crash in Germany, and further software and sensor research, the team upgraded to an 18 meter range S2L Lidar. The obstacle avoidance system is being upgraded to feature a dynamic safety margin proportional to the drone’s speed using Lua scripting. A functional payload pipeline was established using the RPI, and camera streams were successfully integrated into Mission Planner via Ethernet. Compliance requirements were met by selecting the Drone Beacon Remote ID module for both FAA and EASA standards. Logistics remain a bottleneck due to dimensional mismatches in the transport case foam and concerns regarding load distribution on the camera. The project aims to build the dev kit by the end of December to accommodate a January beta testing phase.
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
4. Goals for Next Month
- Test 25mm landing gear and order custom 30mm version depending on results.
- Continue flight testing of both PT3 aircraft and expand mission profiles.
- Finalize obstacle avoidance system.
- Finalize RPI integration.
- Conduct waterproof testing.
- Test SIYI MK32 RC.
- Test and integrate RemoteID
- Place order for multiple transport cases
- Place order for PCBs
- Place order for structural components
- Prepare all dev-kit documentation
- FAA registration
5. Budget & Resource Allocation
- Project Expenses:
$4,380.00 was reimbursed for pre ordering the Dev Kit PCB components on JLCPCB
Link - Team Members Compensation
The project team was compensated for $35,539.00. The breakdown can be found here. - Total
The total expense of Project Quiver in September was $39,919.00 which is below the monthly maximum spending cap. In addition, the team members received 19,744 $ARROW in total as part of their compensations.