Emergency Signal Relay Drone

The aim of this capstone project is to design and develop a drone equipped with a specialized payload to aid in disaster recovery scenarios, particularly when communication towers are compromised due to hurricanes or other natural disasters. The drone would be deployed post-disaster to facilitate emergency communications by receiving an emergency analog VHF channel and repeating the transmission on a UHF analog channel. Students will start by conducting a thorough needs assessment to understand the requirements and constraints of disaster recovery communication. They will then proceed to build, purchase, or alter a drone capable of carrying the necessary payload. The payload will consist of a communication system capable of receiving VHF signals and retransmitting them on UHF frequencies. The project will encompass various phases including research, design, development, testing, and deployment. Students will be responsible for ensuring that the drone and payload meets all operational requirements while also adhering to regulatory standards for unmanned aerial systems.

Student learning experience:
Students will gain hands-on experience in:
• Aerodynamic design and analysis for different drone types (fixed wing vs quad copter)
• Integration of communication system and payload
• Understanding and implementing VHF and UHF communication technology
• Drone assembly, testing, and flight operations
• Problem-solving and critical thinking