Victor Paes-Leme

is a multilingual Aerospace Engineering student at the University of Florida, committed to making the world a safer and efficient place through mechanical improvements and new technological developments with his knowledge in manufacturing and design.

Modular Surveillance UAV

Overview
The main design objective was to create an RC aircraft capable of aerial surveillance and autonomous flight. The primary goal behind structural design was to create a highly modular design for easy repair and assembly. Aerial surveillance objectives were achieved by using a front-facing POV camera as well as mounting a secondary camera below the fuselage on a gimbal. For autonomous flight, a gyroscope and GPS unit were placed inside the plane for location information while a lidar sensor was used to retrieve altitude data. A mid wing was preferred to reduce the complexity of the fuselage as well as add aesthetic value to the design. A push-prop was selected to increase the field of view of the camera, while a V-tail was selected to reduce the overall drag of the plane while providing cleaner air to the propeller. Airfoil geometries and aerodynamic surface sizing were all selected from iterative design processes on XFLR 5.

Push-Prop and V-Tail
A push-prop (motor at the back) configuration was elected to improve the visibility of both the FPV and gimbal mounted cameras. A v-tail configuration was selected to reduce the overall drag of the plane while providing clean air to the propeller. Sizing of the v-tail was increased from what is typically recommended to increase the lateral stability of the plane for surveillance purposes.

Wings
A NACA 4412 section was used for the wings to maximize the sectional lift provided without large increases in drag or pitch moment. A LW-PLA internal construction was used to minimize the weight of the wings, over which carbon fiber was layed up on the skin. Carbon fiber spars were glued into the wing, which was then attached to the fuselage using hose clamps. Winglets were included to reduce drag and made removable.

FPV Camera
The First Person View (FPV) camera allows the pilot to see what the aircraft "sees" in real-time, enabling precise control and navigation. The FPV camera lays the foundation for future upgrades and expansions, such as integrating additional sensors or advanced AI capabilities for autonomous flight.

Electronics
The main electronic component of the plane was the receiver, which had a total of 10 channels as well as compatibility with the gyro, GPS, POV camera, lidar sensors and telemetry data from the ESC. The gyro allowed for the plane to have auto-stabilizing characteristics, though full autonomous flight was not yet achieved, and had to rest on a level surface for stabilization and reception of GPS data. The receiver also allowed for tuning of control surface gains, such as the implementation of flaperons which were instrumental in successful landing.

Landing Gear
The carbon fiber leaf spring landing gear raises the aircraft 9 inches off the ground for ample prop clearance and space to attach the surveillance camera gimbal. It is constructed with lightweight PLA and has 3 plies of carbon fiber for durability.

Watch our successful flight video below!

Airfoil Flap Analysis

Abstract
An investigation was done to determine the lift produced by different types of flaps using a NACA 0012 airfoil in a wind tunnel, with the purpose of evaluating how much significance flaps have in lift generation and airfoil stall. These flaps would then be compared to other experiments to perform an analysis on how accurate the results
are. The regular NACA 0012, a plain flap, split flap, and slotted flap were tested in a wind tunnel with a Reynold’s number of 206,500 ± 7,300. Lift was calculated using a dynamometer that the airfoils were attached to in the test section. While the slotted flap was predicted to produce the most amount of lift, the plain flap did instead. This may have been caused by the differences in Reynold’s numbers of a wind tunnel and real planes. The plain, split, and slotted flap produced 166.5%, 152.2%, and 131.5% more lift, respectively, compared to the no flap configuration. The plain flap ended up producing the greatest coefficient of lift, being 0.418 ± 0.092.

As a Manufacturing Engineering Intern at Pursuit Aerospace in Thomasville, GA, during the summer of 2024, I have had the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience in a high-precision aerospace manufacturing environment. Pursuit Aerospace specializes in producing intricate aircraft engine components, adhering to stringent quality standards and excellence through the implementation of lean manufacturing principles, Six Sigma methodologies, Kaizen practices, and 5S workplace organization techniques.Throughout my internship, I have been involved in several projects that have significantly enhanced my knowledge and practical skills in manufacturing and design processes. Notably, I have worked directly on the production line, observing the part manufacturing processes firsthand. Leveraging this experience, along with 5S and Kaizen principles, I have contributed to improving productivity and optimizing the workflow of parts transitioning between machining operations.Additionally, I have performed an in-depth tool breakage analysis across the facility, correlating the data with production demands. Utilizing this information, I developed an Excel-based calculator to determine precise tool usage requirements and implement a min/max inventory system, ensuring timely and efficient tool procurement.Furthermore, I have designed a 3D-printed tool using Siemens NX CAD software to aid polishing operators in accurately measuring material removal along complex spline geometries. This tool has minimized operator error and enhanced the precision of the polishing process, contributing to consistent and high-quality output.

Victor Paes-Leme

Currently, the best way to get into contact me is to email me at victor@paesleme.net, or to send me a message on LinkedIn! I'd be happy to then give you my phone number for better communication.