Concept study for cargo drone, from prototype to product

Important results from the project

The purpose of the project is based on designing a concept for a load-bearing drone of the quadrotor model with folding arms. The design must be modified to facilitate manufacturing, improve weight and performance as well as better appearance and durability. The concept will be designed with a focus on preparing for production, i.e. enabling Nordluft to adapt the design in detail, order parts and build the drone with little effort.

Expected long term effects

The project has demonstrated through cost modeling of a number of different concepts with different production methods that the concept according to which today´s prototypes are built is the most cost-effective method of building a drone. Therefore, the project has focused on developing that concept with a focus on increased weather resistance and modifications to facilitate both manufacturing and assembly.

Approach and implementation

The project was divided into three work packages. Work package 1 was a review of today´s construction on site at Nordluft, where load cases and design criteria were discussed. During work package 2, a number of concepts were discussed, which in work package 3 were evaluated on the basis of a cost modeling. Then a production technique was decided to focus on and develop a concept based on this.