Creation of a Portable UAV for ABL Studies as an Engineering Training Experience

The APY-024 design project was developed to provide engineering students with hands-on experience in the design, build, and flight testing of UAVs for scientific missions. This initiative included the creation of a 2.8 kg UAV that integrated a miniature sonic anemometer, which required students to engage in aerodynamic design, structural enhancements, and propulsion system upgrades to enable the collection of critical data on turbulent flows and atmospheric variables. Guided by computational simulations, empirical tests, and manufacturing techniques, the project resulted in a UAV capable of successfully performing atmospheric missions. The current version of the UAV, the APY-024 Mk2, achieved notable advancements, including increased flight autonomy up to 20 minutes, capacity to withstand winds in the order of 10 m/s, improved structural resilience for high-impact landings, wind tunnel testing to address airflow disturbances around the sonic anemometer structure, and upgraded propulsion system to allow hand-launch capability.