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Final Semester Review

Expectation vs. Reality

Before starting AT 209, I expected the class to focus more on basic aircraft maintenance and learning how to troubleshoot common problems. I also thought we would mainly be working with maintenance tools and doing more pre-built or guided labs. I did not expect topics like FAA waivers and legislation to be such a big part of the course, but after going through the semester, i understand why they are important, especially Part 108 and how common it is in the UAS industry.

In reality, the course was much more focused on building and understanding UAS systems than i originally thought. We spent most of the semester working on the Believer training aircraft, which involved both hardware and software. While i originally thought we would design more parts ourselves, I am really glad we got as far as we did with the build. Being able to apply what we learned directly to the Believer made the class more interesting and helped the information stick better.

Overview of the semester

At the beginning of the semester, we worked on labs that introduced important skills we would use later on. These labs included soldering, working with maintenance tools, inspecting wiring harnesses, and completing the NIST Open Test Lane flights. Even though I had some experience with soldering before, these labs helped refresh my skills and reminded me how important safety and precision are. The NIST OTL flights also helped with flying under pressure and understanding how pilot performance is evaluated. After the first few labs, we began working on the believer. We started by learning about the airframe, its parts, and how everything fits together. From there, we moved into DATX setup and modification, where we adjusted both the hardware and software to match Wind Racers standards. We also worked with telemetry and firmware, which showed how important communication is between systems. Later labs focused on installing avionics, configuring motors and controls, binding receivers and transmitters, and creating wiring diagrams. We also learned how to write and submit an FAA operational waiver. By the end of the semester, we started assembling the Believer, and although we did not fully finish it, we are set up to continue next semester.

Value of Building from Scratch

Building the Believer from scratch was one of the hardest but most valuable parts of class. Instead of using a plug-and-play system, we had understand how each part worked and why it was needed. At time this was frustrating, especially when instructions were limited or something did not work right away, but it taught me to slow down and focus on understanding the basics.

Working with open and closed systems was also a big learning experience. Flashing firmware and changing configurations helped me see how flexible these systems can be if you take the time to learn them. This changed how I think about real UAS engineering, since it is not always a straight process and often requires problem-solving along the way.

Skill Growth and Technical Learning

Throughout the semester, I learned a lot of new technical skills. I improved my soldering and hardware assembly skills, which are important when working with flight controllers and other electronic componenets. I also learned hwo to create and use wirirng diagrams, which helped my group understand how everything connected.

I gained a better understanding of system architecture and integration, especially how components like the Cube Blue, GPS, airspeed sensor, ESCs, motors, and avionics work together. Troubleshooting firmware and configuration issues also helped me learned how to track down problems and understand system limits. Working in a group with changing information taught me how important communication and teamwork are in technical projects.

What Surprised Me

One thing that surprised me was how easy it was to integrate the Cube Blue into Believer once we understood how the ports and configurations worked. I also found the open and closed firmware systems more challenging than expected, but they ended up being some of the most helpful labs.

Another moment that stood out was learning how to calculate flight distance and battery performance using battery specifications. This helped me understand how voltage and current affect the system and why battery choice is so important for a safe flight.

What I’m Most Proud Of

One skill I am most proud of improving is my soldering. I also helped my group with creating wiring diagrams, which seemed overwhelming at first because of how many parts were involved. Breaking it down step by step made it easier for everyone to understand.

I also contributed by helping with

Overall Takeaways

Overall, this course helped increase my confidence with UAS hardware and system setup. While i still have a lot to learn, I now have a better understanding of how UAS systems work and how different components fit together. I plan to take this knowledge into futures, courses, internships, and projects.

The biggest takeaway from this semester is learning how to work through complex problems, communicate with a team, and stay organized during technical projects. These skills will be useful not only in the future UAS courses but also in my future career.

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