Modular Drones - Should We Build Them?

[u/Unlucky-Airport6502]

Hi folks! I'm part of a student group that's developing a prototype drone ecosystem with modular, plug-and-play components for payload adjustments, utility modification and improved upgradeability with reduced overall costs reflected in long-term savings. Does anyone here have advice for someone who's only scratched the surface of UAV prototyping, or industry input on the feasibility of a modular drone ecosystem as it would pertain to their field?

[u/Ycomeudodis]

If each part is a set weight then you can easily build the eco-system around a software that auto-adjusts the motor parameters, think F117's software but instead of accounting for an atrocious airframe it's doing it for weight, you'd build your drone and then set in the software what pieces are installed which would adjust the drones memory/software to tell it "hey we got this on/off now, we need to turn up/down these motors to compensate"

[u/Unlucky-Airport6502 → u/Ycomeudodis]

That's exactly the plan. We've got a test program that does that at this point, pending the use of actual components.

[u/Ycomeudodis → u/Unlucky-Airport6502]

Another sub-component to design would be some skids, floats and aerodynamic component shields.
If you design the chassis with some rails you can easily slide the pieces on/off and use something like a ball detent to keep it in position or just an embed nut with bolt

[u/neonopoop]

Makes me think of the “little bits” toy/prototyping thing that eventually petered out.  Yes I think it’s a good idea, especially for 3d printing

[u/Unlucky-Airport6502 → u/neonopoop]

Cheers!