Preliminary Design of a Martian Drone

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Faculty

Aerospace Engineering

Abstract

This report presents the preliminary design process of an aerial drone aimed at exploring the surface of Mars. The aim of this project is to help determine whether the Red Planet ever hosted alien life. Building on recent breakthroughs in the field, the team set out to develop a drone that can sustain 30 minutes of continuous flight, travel up to 20 kilometres, and identify, collect and transport 3 kilograms of rocks to a Martian ground station. The design process involved planning and integration of various subsystems, including propulsion, structural, electrical and payload systems, all tailored to overcome the unique challenges posed by Mars’ environment. This document provides a thorough overview of the design methodology, subsystem integration and performance analysis, underscoring key design decisions and providing recommendations for future development and optimisation of the drone.

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