Study of drone arm behavior with metamaterial implementation

Abstract

Access to data communications is restricted in different sectors of society, generally these problems are reflected in communities with difficult access being rural areas. The lack of connectivity in these communities has become a significant challenge, this Thesis presents an innovative approach focused on the design of a drone frame, which will be used as a means to connect communities with broadband communications, solving the problem of lack of coverage. The drone is proposed as an effective means to connect communities to broadband communications, acting as a key technological tool to address the lack of coverage. However, it is recognized that drones are not without risk, as they can suffer mishaps such as crashes or crash landings. Specifically, drone arms are identified as the parts most susceptible to significant damage, such as bending, cracking or complete breakage, due to the considerable impact forces involved. To mitigate these risks, computer-aided design (CAD) software is used to elaborate the comprehensive design of the drone frame. Special attention is focused on the drone arms, selecting them as the critical part to be analyzed. New designs incorporating reinforcement techniques are proposed and implemented, with the main objective of minimizing the risk of damage while ensuring the structural integrity of the drone. By understanding the relationship between design parameters and mechanical response, it is determined that the implementation of metamaterial in one section of the drone arm produces a lighter part with better stress distribution. In addition, an acceptable safety factor is achieved and the free vibration of the arm is mitigated. This project addresses the challenges inherent to the safety and robustness of drones frames, thus contributing to the advancement of connectivity in difficult to access environments.