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AT 219 - Autonomous Aircraft Technology and Maintenance ll

Week 01 (11-18 Jan)

To start, I’m cold. I’ve been cold and I feel I will always be cold (”always” encompassing the timeframe from now to mid-April I imagine). This first week has been rather relaxed, as is expected with the first week of the semester. Physics 220 has been a soft start so far, but I see a storm on the horizon. Glee Club has been going well. We had a joint concert on the 16th with Ohio State’s Glee Club and I feel we were better than them, so that’s nice.

Now that I’ve gotten all of that out of the way, we can talk about this course. So far, I’m liking the implementation of articles regarding UAS advancements and policy affecting the industry. We were able to discuss this week’s article and debate our individual positions regarding the DJI UAS and UAS components ban within the United States. Additionally, the lab (which instructed us to essentially conduct a quality/progress check on the MFE Believer builds) was helpful in that it provided an easy way to get reacquainted with the MFE Believer project. I’m feeling confident about the teamwork and contributions I’ll be able to make this semester

Week 02 (19-25 Jan)

This week ended with the big winter storm everyone’s been worrying about. Really looking forward to driving to class tomorrow. Also, despite our loss to Illinois’ basketball team yesterday, I did have the random opportunity of being selected to participate in a banana split eating contest about halfway through the second half of the game. I was robbed of my victory by Marlee Thomas. I will never forget.

For the lab this week, we connected our laptops and an Orqa controller to a flight simulator known as SeligSIM. The process — although relatively simple given our previous labs — did require some patience and attention to detail. We had to calibrate the controller and establish its buttonology. We were supposed to “check-out” the Orqa controllers, but I discovered that I’m apparently one of the bad noodles that failed to create a Shelf account. Thankfully, I was told that I could proceed.

The flight simulator itself is fun, but my computer has a hard time handling it. The screen will flash constantly for varying periods of time. Then it will stabilize for a while and once again intermittently start flashing again. The flight itself was super cool though. I can certainly see how this will be critical for practice before we actually fly the Believers. Especially for the mastery of approach orientation.

Week 03 (26Jan-01 Feb)

This week was hardly eventful. I’ve been fighting for my life to manage my time between Physics and the EBEC Python I signed up for. Debating on dropping the Python since it’s non-credit. I can’t afford to drop Physics because then I’ll no longer be a full-time student. To get GI Bill money, I need to be full time. The bag must be secured at all costs.

The build is coming along. Lots of wire soldering and trying to make sure our group knows what goes where. Lucas and Aidan are absolute beasts of competency, per usual arrangements. Then there’s me...I help where I can and record the entire process. Hopefully will be done soon!

Week 04 (02-08 Feb)

Welp I finally decided to drop Python. I’m actually sad about it. Though I would crash out often, I did enjoy the learning, and I want to learn more. I just couldn’t afford to neglect Physics anymore. We have a quiz in 2 weeks, and I feel that I’m prepared in the negative direction. Also, Flashbacks rehearsal being presented in lecture was quite the surprise. I can’t help but be embarrassed, but it’s literally part of the job. I did like that everyone seemed to get a good kick out of it and thought it at least sounded good. Valuable info from the video too. I need to hold to mic away from me by about another inch to blend a little better.

This week was a continuation of assembling the Believer. Once again, Aidan and Lucas were doing a lot of the hands-on work, while I grabbed tools for them, recorded the process, and updated our wiring diagram. We’re meeting on Friday to finalize the build, which is unfortunate, but necessary.

Week 05 (09-15 Feb)

We finally did it. We completed the Believer build. And I actually did a decent amount of hands-on work! It was so nice. Also found out that our group is apparently caught up to the leading group. Nice that we’re not behind despite the multiple setbacks that we had. Now all we have to do is the center of gravity calculations. I also need to get a lot better with fixed wing flight via simulation. My...landings...are quite quick and unexpected.

Valentine’s Day was great. Spent plenty of money, but it is what it is. Also had a performance in Indianapolis at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. Really pretty venue, but lord have mercy that was a hard show. It was a mostly dead space, it was hot, and our dressing room was 4 flights of stairs down from the auditorium. The song order was also not very nice. I was gasping for air like a fat kid.

Week 06 (16-22 Feb)

This was my most positively contributing week yet. With Aidan incapacitated and Lucas sick, the progress of the group rested on my shoulders. That is...I did the center of gravity calculations for our Believer. Apparently, my calculations could’ve been more accurate. Dealing with the bob weight is annoying. 0.3 inches doesn’t sound very significant, but indeed apparently it is. Despite this, Anestis and I assessed that it was more than likely user error rather than an indication of an erroneous center of gravity.

Additionally, I got to once again sing the national anthem with the Glee Club at the Purdue/IU basketball game. Probably our best rep of it to date and we actually got some clout on the social medias. Oscar Cluff seemed to be a fan and that was much appreciated.

Week 07 (23Feb-01 Mar)

Straight up this week sucked. The lab had me feeling the highest degree of defeated. It ended up being simpler than expected, but my experience with Ground Control operation is negligible. I got it done, but not without the upmost feeling of doom throughout.

Aidan, Lucas, and I met at AJ’s to complete the DJI crash report analysis assignment. It was a good time. State of the Union was going on by the time we were finishing up. Now that state has changed, given that we are BOMBING IRAN. Got me wishing I was back underway right now.

Week 08 (02-08 Mar)

Not too shabby at all. I really enjoyed the lab this week. At first, I didn’t and I was fretting. But by the end of it, the amount of in-person instruction and hands-on mission building from start to finish was very valuable. I feel a lot more comfortable with conducting an operation. The briefing portion reminded me of my active duty time. I’m gonna make some fire briefs in the future.

It’s specialty audition season for Flashbacks in the Glee Club. I will have to fight to keep my spot for next year. This is my house and I will defend it.

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