Report on the summary of AEROTHON Guidelines Documents
AEROTHON 2024 is an annual contest organized by SAEINDIA Aerospace Forum,
focusing on the design, construction, and demonstration of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems
(UAS). This contest is a platform for engineering students to gain hands-on experience
and engage in real-world engineering challenges, fostering innovation in the aerospace
sector. The theme for this edition is "Surveillance and Disaster Management," reflecting
the growing role of UAS in critical missions like disaster relief, security, and monitoring.
The contest is designed to expose students to the end-to-end cycle of UAS development,
from design conception to the final flight demonstration, equipping them with both
technical and soft skills relevant to the aerospace industry.
The contest is divided into two distinct phases:
1. Phase 1: Design Report & Oral Presentation – Teams are required to prepare a detailed
technical design report outlining the engineering choices behind their UAS, supported by
comprehensive analysis, followed by an oral presentation to a panel of experts.(This is
similar to what we did this year as well)
2. Phase 2: Flying Competition – Selected teams from Phase 1 will build a physical
prototype of their design and participate in flying challenges. This phase includes
technical inspections, flight missions, and a new business pitch segment titled “Tiger’s
Cave.”
Note- This year we have to also pitch our build with respect to a business proposal and
Business Idea.
Contest Objectives- (Basic hai ignore kar sakte hoo)
- To promote innovation in Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) design and development
among students.
- To develop skills and expertise in aerospace technologies aligned with India’s vision of
becoming self-reliant in drone technologies under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
- To foster an entrepreneurial mindset by encouraging teams to think beyond the
technical aspects and propose business applications for their UAS designs.
- To expose students to real-world industry conditions, preparing them for the
aerospace sector through practical challenges.
(Very Important parameters to be followed)
Phase 1: Design Report & Oral Presentation
Design Requirements & Assessment
The UAS design in AEROTHON 2024 must meet specific technical parameters. Teams are
evaluated based on their ability to meet these design requirements and justify their
engineering decisions:
1. UAS Type: Multirotor configurations only (fixed-wing designs are not allowed).
2. Category: Micro UAS (take off weight less than 2 kg).
3. Payload Capacity: 200 grams.
4. Propulsion: Electric motors.
5. Communication System Range: Minimum 1 km.
6. Flight Modes: The UAS must be capable of both manual and autonomous operations.
The payload dimensions are specified as 10 cm x 5 cm x 5 cm, and the contest
encourages innovative payload delivery mechanisms to ensure safe and accurate
payload drops during missions(This is where we messed up this year). The teams are
expected to detail the following in their design report:
-Conceptual Design: A high-level view of the physical layout of the UAS, including
arrangement of components.
-Preliminary Calculations: Estimation of weight, thrust requirements, power
consumption, and endurance.
-Subsystem Selection: Justification for the choice of propulsion system, communication
devices, navigation systems, and sensors.
-Computer-Aided Design (CAD): Detailed 2D and 3D models demonstrating the
structural layout, with a focus on centre of gravity (CG), stability, and performance
analysis.
Design Report Assessment Criteria
- Innovation: Teams are assessed on how innovative their design approach is,
particularly in payload handling and autonomous operations.
- Subsystem Integration: Evaluation of the integration of propulsion systems, flight
controllers, and sensors into the overall design.
- CAD & Analysis: The quality and accuracy of CAD models, as well as the
computational analysis (including simulations and stability tests), are important
assessment factors.
- Autonomous Operation: A major focus is placed on the team’s methodology for
implementing autonomous flight, object detection, and payload delivery. Teams must
provide a detailed strategy for these tasks, including algorithms for navigation and
image processing.
(Note – Isme please fekna mat jo initial design hai wahi throughout rakhna nahi toh
badme presentation mai problems hoti hai)
Phase 2: Flying Competition
Technical Inspection
Before teams can participate in the flying rounds, each UAS undergoes a rigorous
technical inspection. This is critical to ensure that the UAS complies with safety
standards and matches the specifications outlined in the design report. The inspection
focuses on:
- Dimensional Accuracy: Ensuring that the physical dimensions of the UAS align with the
design submitted in Phase 1.
- Component Verification: All components (motors, batteries, controllers) used in the
actual UAS must match those specified in the design report.
- Structural Integrity: The UAS must be robust, with all components properly secured.
Fasteners, wiring, and connections are inspected for reliability.
- Safety Features: Key safety checks include ensuring that battery and radio failsafe
mechanisms are in place. Geo-fencing features, return-to-launch (RTL) protocols, and
other safety measures are verified.(Prop guards nahi mention kiye hai but I feel we should
include those as well)
- Payload Handling: The payload attachment mechanism is inspected to ensure it can
perform the specified mission tasks reliably.
Flight Missions
The flying competition consists of four flight missions, which test the UAS's capabilities
in both manual and autonomous operations:
1. Mission 1: Manual Survey, Object Detection, and Classification
- Objective: The UAS must manually navigate the survey field, capture hotspots, and
identify objects using onboard cameras. Object identification and counting are
conducted autonomously, even though the flight is manual.
- Scoring Criteria: Accuracy of hotspot detection, number of objects detected, and
ability to return to base safely.
2. Mission 2: Autonomous Survey and Object Detection
- Objective: The UAS must autonomously complete the same tasks as Mission 1 without
manual intervention. The UAS should detect and classify objects based on predefined
algorithms.
- Scoring Criteria: Autonomous navigation performance, object detection accuracy, and
overall mission completion time.
3. Mission 3: Manual Payload Delivery with Obstacle Navigation
-Objective: The UAS must navigate through a series of obstacles manually, deliver a
payload to a designated target, and return to base.
-Scoring Criteria: Completion of obstacle navigation, accuracy of payload drop, and
time efficiency.
4. Mission 4: Autonomous Payload Delivery
- Objective: The UAS must autonomously deliver a payload to the target point, after
identifying hotspots. Payload delivery is scored based on proximity to the target center.
- Scoring Criteria: Accuracy of the payload drop and ability to complete the mission
autonomously.
Evaluation Criteria
The overall scoring in AEROTHON 2024 is based on the following categories:
Phase 1: Design Report & Oral Presentation
1. Technical Content (100 points) – Includes conceptual design, performance
estimation, propulsion system, and innovative design features.
2. Autonomous Capabilities (15 points) – Emphasizes the UAS's ability to perform
autonomous flight, object detection, and payload drop.
3. Innovation(10 points) – Points are awarded for novel approaches in design and
mission performance.
4. Presentation(10 points) – Quality of the team's presentation and ability to
communicate their design choices effectively.
Phase 2: Flying Competition
1. Technical Presentation(25 points) – A summary of the UAS’s performance, including
any changes from the initial design.
2. Technical Inspection(25 points) – Points awarded for meeting technical safety and
design requirements.
3. Flight Missions(Mission 1: 40 points, Mission 2: 50 points, Mission 3: 50 points,
Mission 4: 60 points) – Each mission is scored based on accuracy, timing, and
performance.
(Note- The below part is new and iske koi points nahi hai but award milega)
Tiger’s Cave: Business Plan Proposal
An exciting addition to AEROTHON 2024 is the Tiger’s Cave, a separate competition
designed to promote entrepreneurial thinking. Teams pitch their UAS product to a panel
of industry leaders, showcasing the market potential of their design. This is a non-scoring
event but offers recognition for the best business ideas, further preparing students for
real-world applications.
