Engineering a low-cost, expendable fixed-wing drone for search and rescue missions using readily available components

Abstract

This paper describes the design and aerodynamic performance evaluation of a low-cost, expendable fixed-wing UAV for humanitarian purposes built with off-the-shelf components. The drone is designed for quick deployment in disaster relief, search and rescue, and medical delivery operations. The aerodynamic performance, stability, and flight performance were evaluated using DATCOM, XFLR5, and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analyses. Results indicate that the wing and fuselage of the UAV are well designed, which significantly enhanced the lift-to-drag ratio, endurance, and efficiency. The employment of commercially available parts allows for cost-effective, scalable, and replicable platforms. The payload can be adapted and, since the drone is modular, it is also versatile. Future work will focus on enhancing structural integrity while maintaining cost efficiency, incorporating vision-based survivor detection for search and rescue operations, and conducting field tests to validate performance under diverse conditions. This study is part of the design effort towards accessible and cost-efficient UAV solutions for humanitarian operations, bridging the gap between affordability and performance.