Material selection and optimisation of a 3D-printed indoor aerial robotics platform

Both aerial robotic platforms and additive manufacturing (AM) have become more affordable to consumers. Indoor aerial robotic platforms are typically small and lightweight, while AM is renowned for creating small, high-strength prototypes and components. This paper discusses the material selection a...

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Main Authors: de Ronde Willis, Botha Natasha, van Eden Beatrice, Tshabalala Lerato
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: EDP Sciences 2024-01-01
Series:MATEC Web of Conferences
Online Access:https://www.matec-conferences.org/articles/matecconf/pdf/2024/18/matecconf_rapdasa2024_04016.pdf
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author de Ronde Willis
Botha Natasha
van Eden Beatrice
Tshabalala Lerato
author_facet de Ronde Willis
Botha Natasha
van Eden Beatrice
Tshabalala Lerato
author_sort de Ronde Willis
collection DOAJ
description Both aerial robotic platforms and additive manufacturing (AM) have become more affordable to consumers. Indoor aerial robotic platforms are typically small and lightweight, while AM is renowned for creating small, high-strength prototypes and components. This paper discusses the material selection and structural optimisation of a 3D-printed indoor aerial robotic platform. Three commonly used AM materials were compared using finite element analysis (FEA): acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), and Nylon. It was found that Nylon offered the best performance in terms of the strength-to-weight ratio. The aerial robotic frame was optimised using an iterative design approach and previous knowledge with regards to the breaks observed during flight crashes. A dynamic FEA was performed to simulate a drop test from a height of one meter to compare the optimised design with the previous frame design. It was found that the improvements in the redesign have led to a 13.67 % decrease in weight and a 11.78 % decrease stress of the aerial robotic frame. This not only demonstrates the effectiveness of design optimisation, but also highlights the commitment to producing more efficient, reliable and sustainable designs.
format Article
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institution OA Journals
issn 2261-236X
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publishDate 2024-01-01
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series MATEC Web of Conferences
spelling doaj-art-644762cfcd524fd7acb85222494244b72025-08-20T02:38:05ZengEDP SciencesMATEC Web of Conferences2261-236X2024-01-014060401610.1051/matecconf/202440604016matecconf_rapdasa2024_04016Material selection and optimisation of a 3D-printed indoor aerial robotics platformde Ronde Willis0Botha Natasha1van Eden Beatrice2Tshabalala Lerato3Centre for Robotics and Future Production, Future Production: Manufacturing, CSIRIndustry Connect, Future Production: Manufacturing, CSIRCentre for Robotics and Future Production, Future Production: Manufacturing, CSIRPhotonics Centre, Future Production: Manufacturing, CSIRBoth aerial robotic platforms and additive manufacturing (AM) have become more affordable to consumers. Indoor aerial robotic platforms are typically small and lightweight, while AM is renowned for creating small, high-strength prototypes and components. This paper discusses the material selection and structural optimisation of a 3D-printed indoor aerial robotic platform. Three commonly used AM materials were compared using finite element analysis (FEA): acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), and Nylon. It was found that Nylon offered the best performance in terms of the strength-to-weight ratio. The aerial robotic frame was optimised using an iterative design approach and previous knowledge with regards to the breaks observed during flight crashes. A dynamic FEA was performed to simulate a drop test from a height of one meter to compare the optimised design with the previous frame design. It was found that the improvements in the redesign have led to a 13.67 % decrease in weight and a 11.78 % decrease stress of the aerial robotic frame. This not only demonstrates the effectiveness of design optimisation, but also highlights the commitment to producing more efficient, reliable and sustainable designs.https://www.matec-conferences.org/articles/matecconf/pdf/2024/18/matecconf_rapdasa2024_04016.pdf
spellingShingle de Ronde Willis
Botha Natasha
van Eden Beatrice
Tshabalala Lerato
Material selection and optimisation of a 3D-printed indoor aerial robotics platform
MATEC Web of Conferences
title Material selection and optimisation of a 3D-printed indoor aerial robotics platform
title_full Material selection and optimisation of a 3D-printed indoor aerial robotics platform
title_fullStr Material selection and optimisation of a 3D-printed indoor aerial robotics platform
title_full_unstemmed Material selection and optimisation of a 3D-printed indoor aerial robotics platform
title_short Material selection and optimisation of a 3D-printed indoor aerial robotics platform
title_sort material selection and optimisation of a 3d printed indoor aerial robotics platform
url https://www.matec-conferences.org/articles/matecconf/pdf/2024/18/matecconf_rapdasa2024_04016.pdf
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AT tshabalalalerato materialselectionandoptimisationofa3dprintedindooraerialroboticsplatform