Table of Contents

Introduction

Following two successful years flying Big Quad 2024 and Big Quad 2025 we have decided to pursue a hexcopter for the 2026 competition cycle. The original POR was to pursue a VTOL, however a rough Fixed Wing 2025 program, it was made evident the team needed more practice focusing on fixed-wing design.

The team will continue to push Fixed Wing 2025 through this competition cycle hoping to begin small-scale VTOL development alongside a hexcopter. This decision came from lessons learned during 2022-2023 Program Outline. Note that the viability on this as a program is highly dependent on having skilled individuals interested in driving the program.

Details

• Improvements to Big Quad 2024 and Big Quad 2025

  • Endurance

    • Aim to get more flight time by pursuing custom battery packs and new battery configuration

  • Avionics cover

    • Limited water proofing on previous quadcopters, design with goal to be able to fly in rain

  • Harness optimizations​

    • Wire AWG and length optimizations

  • Connector Optimizations

    • MT30s used on the phase leads. One on ESC side, one at arm detachment point, straight harness down the arm, one on the motor side.

    • Using the ESC reversal pads to flip ESC directions

  • Landing struts

    • Prioritize mounting relative to frame compared to previous iterations being reliant on motor levelness

    • Possible look into angle landing gear with two skis

  • Design with electronics in mind

    • Design with specific location in mind to limit overall size of sandwich plates

    • Mounts for all electronics that do not meet 30.5 x 30.5 pattern

  • RC Control Link and Telemetry over LTE

    • Switching to LTE due to interference and link loss during AEAC 2025

    • Ethernet Idea

Electronics Summary

Initial System Architecture

BOM

Propulsion

Power

Controls

Peripherals

Groundside