Design and Development of a Tri-copter/Fixed-wing VTOL Drone for Post-Disaster Applications

Artificial and natural disasters cause severe harm and economic impact, especially in the disaster-prone Philippines. Customizable and modular drones can significantly aid relief efforts, though different types have varying advantages and limitations. The Philippines struggles to fully utilize drone technology for environmental monitoring, agriculture, and disaster management due to a lack of locally produced drones. This study aims to design a conceptual hybrid VTOL drone tailored for post-disaster applications in the country, enhancing the capability to carry external loads and equipment for relief operations. When designing a hybrid VTOL drone, one must consider the different design concepts that can affect the controls, stability, and flight characteristics. The drone was designed with certain criteria in mind, like the total weight, wingspan, length, and others. These criteria then dictate which coefficient and ratio values are suited for the equations to get the general design of the drone. The results showed that the drone is a hybrid tri-copter/fixed-wing VTOL drone whose total weight is lOkg when the material to be used is carbon fiber. When combining the carbon fiber material and egg-inspired fuselage design, due to its compression mechanical properties, can potentially reduce support structures. However, their placement must be considered for electronics that use radio waves, as carbon fiber can cause radio wave interference.