Advancements in Quadcopter Technology: Developing a CAAD Model and Mathematical Model for Amphibious Operations

This paper discusses the development of a sustainable and efficient CAAD model for an amphibious drone capable of traveling in both air and water. The use of UAV/ROV technology has been on the rise due to its versatility and numerous applications in fields such as agriculture, medicine, food delivery, military, and underwater vehicle technology. However, the combination of both technologies to create an amphibious drone has been a challenge due to design, fabrication, and operational difficulties faced by earlier models. To overcome these challenges, a buoyancy control mechanism was developed, comprising two 12 V DC water pumps and a water bladder. The weight distribution in the drone was carefully considered to maintain stability during flight and underwater operations. The position of the ballast tank/bladder was biased toward a particular sector of the circular cross-sectional geometry, and other internal components such as controllers, companion computer modules, batteries, and camera mounts were iteratively worked around in the CAD model based on actual dimension and weight of the components. This allowed for the determination of the CG location in both empty and filled ballast tank cases, and accordingly, changes were made to the position to obtain a suitable internal arrangement. Furthermore, a sustainable mathematical model was developed to describe the quadcopter's movement and behavior concerning the input values of the model and external influences on the drone for both air and water. This model was crucial in predicting the drone's stability and efficiency in both environments. The amphibious drone's potential applications are vast and include underwater habitat research, ship's damage/corrosion monitoring, and military surveillance and ammunition supply. The active buoyancy control mechanism and sustainable CAAD and mathematical models developed in this study could significantly enhance the drone's operational capabilities in various fields. In conclusion, this paper presents a sustainable and efficient CAAD model for an amphibious drone capable of traveling in both air and water. The development of an active buoyancy control mechanism and a sustainable mathematical model enhances the drone's stability, efficiency, and operational capabilities in various fields, including military, agriculture, and underwater vehicle technology.