Mechanically deploying bird diverters using hybrid-cyclorotor drone, Astria

The current methods of installing bird diverters onto high-voltage power lines by workers are deemed a dangerous and expensive task. Pitch Aeronautics tasked our team to design a robust 100% mechanical payload arm that will attach to their patented drone, Astria. There are four main components: 1) Carriers that carry the clamps that are deployed, 2) Linear and curvature tracks that allow the carriers to move along Astria, 3) Bungee system that pulls the carriers, and 4) Stopper that allows the clamps to stop at a designated spot for the clamp to be released. A separate senior design team developed the clamp and bird diverters. The final collaborative product allows Astria to install up to 15 bird diverters in a single flight.

Team Members

DeAnna Andrade
Jacob Tenorio
Jayden Wong-Hurd
Blessing Makwera

Department

Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering

Mentor

Aaron Smith, Ph.D.

Sponsor

Pitch Aeronautics; Zach Adams, Ph.D.