Team

It is the only department that works almost entirely away from the workshop. From the start of the year it studies aerofoils and geometries: a custom or standard aerofoil, elliptical wing, sweep, dihedral. Once there is a main idea, it designs several versions of the outer geometry with XFOIL and XFLR5, and refines them with simulations in MATLAB and CFD.

Once Aerodynamics has its first versions, this department designs the internal structure and the joints and gives the aircraft its physical form, with composites or with traditional techniques such as balsa wood. It also looks for more efficient manufacturing methods that fit the rules of each competition. In parallel, the structures side simulates the critical parts in Abaqus, such as the landing gear, the wings or the fuselage, to check that they withstand their loads without oversizing the aircraft.

The goal is the best control response with the lightest and most efficient system possible. The radio can always be improved: from a standard receiver to ExpressLRS, and from there to an in-house one whose code is still being polished. In propulsion, the work is finding the best balance between motor, propeller, battery and speed controller, with an in-house test bench and in contact with Aerodynamics, which receives the thrust and efficiency data for the design.

It keeps the project afloat. It runs social media, video and photography, and above all it raises the money the project needs: through events, raffles, merchandise and sponsors.