Hydrocopter: A Submersible Aerial Vehicle

Abstract

Vehicles are generally designed for single purposes or single terrains. A vehicle that could swim and fly in cluttered environments would be useful for environmental research, military surveillance, and search and rescue missions during floods and storms. Although governed by the same dynamic equations of motion as a traditional multicopter, a multicopter that can traverse through water must overcome many obstacles not found in flight. Electronics must be protected, propulsion systems must account for the increased drag, and many existing communication systems fail to work in water. This report covers the mechanical, electrical, and control system design solutions necessary to successful construct a multicopter capable of flying, landing on the water surface, submerging, swimming, resurfacing, and flying away.