Challenge and Advantage of Materials in Design and Fabrication of Composite UAV

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is constructed with composite materials, including its aerodynamic surfaces wings, horizontal stabilizer, and rudder. Three main constituents of our model is Kevlar 49, carbon fibre, glass fibre. KALPANA-1 is a pusher type, tail dragger, fixed wing radio controlled medium range remotely operated composite aircraft. This is designed for Aerial surveillance & reconnaissance. It is a kind of drone which has capability of carrying 2kg of operational payload as surveillance camera and its gimbal mount unit. It can be equipped with on-board sensors for weather monitoring as civilian use of UAV. It has a carbon frame body which makes it hassle to work in all-weather environment, protecting its electronics and payload from external entities. KEVLAR-49 is reinforced at the bottom part of the fuselage to overcome hard landing & impacts. The main disadvantage of using carbon fibre is that it partially shelled the RC signals so we fixed our receiver outside of the fuselage. For camera mounting purpose a duct made in front side of fuselage. It can use as other diplomatic mission as mounting camera and robotic arm for weight lifting mechanism. Some further upgrading two semi ducts at two side of the front face of the fuselage for steerable camera mounting. Aircraft using single electrical propulsive system and large wings which helps it for a long range, good endurance and smooth steady flight. Composite materials don't break easily, but that makes it hard to analyses if the interior structure has been damaged at all. In contrast, aluminum bends and dents easily, making it easy to detect structural damage; the same damage is much harder to detect with composite structures. Repairs can also be more difficult when a composite surface is damaged. Finally, composite materials can be expensive, but the high initial costs are typically offset by long-term cost savings and life cycle more compare to cost of material.