SWARM

Overall Vision

SWARM should not only be a group that builds drone after drone. The stronger vision is to create a structured program that connects fun, accessible drone projects with serious engineering applications.

The program is organized around two connected tracks:

Member Engagement Track

Smaller FPV drones, whoops, racing, simulator qualifiers, and hands-on builds that keep members excited and involved.

Applied Engineering Track

Larger autonomous drones focused on payload delivery, mission planning, sensing, safety procedures, and real-world engineering applications.

This gives SWARM both a hobby-facing side and a sponsor-facing technical side. Members learn practical drone hardware while also contributing to projects that demonstrate autonomy, systems engineering, testing, and operations.

Summer Collaboration Plan

During the summer, SWARM and RAPTOR work together to get both groups familiar with drone systems. The purpose of this collaboration is to build shared experience, test hardware, and prepare both teams for more advanced drone development in the fall.

This summer work focuses on a small number of drones rather than trying to scale immediately to the full club. The goal is to create a reliable technical foundation before launching larger member-facing activities.

Summer Deliverables

Build at least two working drones through the SWARM and RAPTOR collaboration.
Develop familiarity with flight controllers, ESCs, motors, propellers, batteries, transmitters, receivers, and FPV systems.
Test setup workflows for ArduPilot, Mission Planner, Betaflight, or other relevant flight software.
Identify reliable parts, vendors, and build practices.
Create a basic drone build guide that can be reused for fall onboarding.
Prepare leadership members to teach newer students during the fall semester.

Fall Semester Focus

The fall semester centers around a major applied engineering project while still including smaller drone builds to maintain broad member interest.

Main Fall Project: Autonomous Payload Drone

The primary fall project is the construction of a heavy-lift autonomous payload drone capable of carrying a defined payload and delivering it to a predetermined location using autonomous mission planning.

The project objective is to design, build, and test a drone capable of:

Carrying a specified payload weight.
Flying a planned route using Mission Planner or a similar ground station tool.
Reaching a predetermined delivery location.
Delivering or releasing a payload with controlled accuracy.
Returning safely or completing a controlled landing sequence.
Operating under documented safety and flight procedures.

Why This Project Works

A payload drone is easy to explain, easy to demonstrate, and strongly connected to real engineering applications. It involves mechanical design, power systems, embedded systems, controls, autonomous navigation, telemetry, testing, documentation, safety, and project management.

Fall Member Engagement Projects

To keep the program accessible, SWARM also runs smaller FPV drone builds during the semester. These builds support the main project by teaching students the basics of drone hardware in a lower-risk and more exciting format.

Tiny whoops for indoor flying and beginner practice.
Three-inch FPV drones for outdoor racing and more capable flight.
Lightweight Li-Ion powered drones focused on longer flight time.
Standardized club drones for racing, training, or future competitions.

Fall Timeline

Phase	Focus	Expected Output
Early Fall	Onboarding and basic drone skills	Intro workshop, basic drone systems and safety training, and small FPV build.
Mid Fall	Payload drone development	Subteams build, integrate, and test the airframe, autonomy, payload, and ground station systems.
Late Fall	Testing and demonstration	Autonomous mission test, payload delivery demo, safety procedure execution, documentation, and sponsor-facing media.

Recommended Fall Subteams

Airframe and Mechanical Team

Frame selection/design, payload mounting, landing gear, and structural reliability.

Power and Propulsion Team

Motor, ESC, propeller, battery, thrust, and flight-time calculations.

Autonomy and Controls Team

ArduPilot, Mission Planner, GPS, sensors, tuning, and autonomous flight testing.

Payload and Release Team

Payload container, release mechanism, drop accuracy, and payload testing.

Ground Station and Operations Team

Telemetry, monitoring, checklists, ground station layout, and flight safety procedures.

Documentation and Sponsorship Team

Build documentation, progress reports, sponsor updates, social media, and final showcase material.

Fall Deliverables

A working or partially working autonomous payload drone prototype.
A documented payload delivery mission profile.
A student flight checklist, safety checklist, and operation procedure.
A parts list, build log, and basic maintenance documentation.
A trained group of student operators familiar with drone hardware and autonomous flight operations.
At least one smaller FPV drone build, training event, or demonstration.
Sponsor-facing photos, videos, and progress summaries.

The most important fall deliverable is not only the drone itself. The real value is creating a repeatable system that future members can continue developing.

Spring Semester Direction

In the spring, SWARM shifts more heavily toward FPV racing, member competition, and public-facing events. This gives the program a strong engagement event while still building technical skills.

FPV Racing Competition Concept

To reduce cost and limit the number of physical drones required, the competition begins with an online simulator qualifier. Students compete using club-provided controllers or their own compatible controllers. The top performers move on to an in-person race.

The in-person race uses standardized club drones or a restricted drone class. Example restrictions include a lightweight whoop format, 1S battery, prop guards, analog video, and a maximum weight limit.

Possible Race Types

Speed Race: fastest time through a course.
Endurance Race: most laps or longest controlled flight on one battery.
Precision Challenge: landing, obstacle navigation, or target-based control.
Team Relay Race: teams rotate pilots or drones through a course.

Prize Ideas

Analog FPV screens.
Budget FPV goggles such as EV800D-style goggles or VR04 goggles.
Radio controllers.
Drone parts kits.
Sponsor-provided prizes.
Gift cards, trophies, or plaques.

Long-Term Vision: True Drone Swarm

Since the program is called SWARM, the long-term goal is to eventually develop coordinated multi-drone systems. This should not be the first major project because it is technically more difficult, but it can become the identity that the program grows toward.

UWB-based relative positioning or indoor localization.
Drone-to-drone communication.
Coordinated route planning.
Search pattern algorithms.
Distributed sensing.
Cooperative mapping.
Autonomous formation control.

SWARM also focuses on research and development of new technologies in the hopes of developing research papers and patents.

Sponsor Benefits

SWARM provides sponsors with visibility while connecting their support to real student engineering outcomes.

Sponsor Visibility Options

Logos on drone arms, airframes, or payload containers.
Branded payloads used in demonstration flights.
Sponsor logos on the ground station, monitors, or banners.
Sponsor names on racing gates, obstacles, or competition prizes.
Watermarked flight footage on IEEE social media.
Sponsor recognition during competitions, showcases, and project updates.
Phrases such as “Flight data powered by [Company]” for sponsor-backed telemetry or media.

Sponsor Value

Supports hands-on engineering education.
Builds student familiarity with autonomous systems and flight operations.
Creates sponsor-facing media that demonstrates real project progress.
Develops students with experience in documentation, testing, safety, and project management.
Connects sponsors with motivated engineering students through a visible technical program.

Program Roadmap

Summer: SWARM and RAPTOR work together to build a small number of drones, train core members, test parts, and create basic documentation.
Fall: SWARM focuses on a heavy-lift autonomous payload drone while running smaller FPV builds every few months to maintain member engagement.
End of Fall: SWARM demonstrates the payload drone, documents the system, establishes safety procedures, and prepares sponsor-facing media.
Spring: SWARM shifts toward FPV racing and member competition, using simulator qualifiers before an in-person race.
Long Term: SWARM grows toward true multi-drone autonomy using localization, communication, coordinated flight, and distributed sensing.

Program Details