Students Create 3D-Printed Drone for Underwater and Aerial Use

Key Takeaways

1. Four students from Aalborg University Esbjerg created a versatile drone prototype capable of flying and underwater navigation.
2. The drone uses a variable-pitch propeller system, allowing the blades to adjust for different environments.
3. A demonstration video showcased the drone’s ability to take off, fly, dive into water, and surface seamlessly.
4. The drone features an ergonomic design with a circular body and four symmetrically arranged two-blade rotors.
5. Recent advancements in drone technology include a 3D-printed drone that can walk, fly, and swim on water.

These four students from Aalborg University Esbjerg have successfully designed, constructed, and thoroughly tested a prototype drone over the course of two semesters. This innovative robot is not just limited to flying but can also navigate underwater.

Unique Propeller System

To achieve this remarkable feat, the team implemented a variable-pitch propeller system. This system permits the blades to rotate along their axis, enabling a change in the angle of the blades. When it comes to underwater navigation, the blades are set to a lower pitch, while they adjust for flight mode accordingly.

Impressive Demonstration

In a two-minute demonstration video shared on YouTube by Andrei Copaci, the drone can be seen taking off from the ground, flying around, diving into a pool, moving a short distance underwater, and then surfacing again, all seamlessly.

The drone features an ergonomic design, with a circular body that contains the battery and control unit. It is equipped with four symmetrically arranged two-blade rotors. This design resembles an enhanced version of a 2015 drone created by a team from Rutgers University, which utilized four coaxial rotors but was restricted to wired control. At this moment, it’s not clear if the students took any inspiration from that earlier project.

Recent Innovations in Drone Technology

In a related story, just ten days ago, we covered a DIY engineer who created a 3D-printed drone that could walk, fly, and swim on the water’s surface.

Petar Durdevic and Andrei Copaci are the primary individuals linked to this project.

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