Aero Society of Automotive Engineers
at the University of Delaware
We are the Aero Society of Automotive Engineers at the University of Delaware. We design, build, and test a remote control plane for the annual Society of Automotive Engineers Aero Design East competition. This is an international collegiate competition that determines which plane can best complete a pre-assigned task. The competition consists of three different classes (micro, regular, and advanced) that teams can enter, each increasing in complexity of the required task in addition to taking off and landing.
About Us
Meet the Team
2022-2023 Team Captains
Fuselage Captain: Harrison Muller
Wings Captain: Cameron Schultz
Controls Captain: Evan Eng
2022-2023 Fuselage Team
2022-2023 Wings Team
2022-2023 Controls Team
Harrison Muller
TJ Kaifer
Valerie Moore
Cameron Schultz
Derik Spedden
Jarred McIntire
Evan Eng
Nikki Pilla
Andrew Brillante
Omar Romero
Chris Calandra
Advisor
Dr. Adam Wickenheiser
2023 Plane
The 2023 SAE Aero Design project involved the design, manufacture, and testing of two aircrafts. First, the primary aircraft (PA) designed to carry a static and dynamic payload. Second, the Powered Autonomous Delivery Aircraft (PADA) designed to hit a target after being released from the PA. The following images provide a glimpse into the team's progress.
September/October 2022 - The team does research, calculations, and concept development
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CAD models resulting from iterations of different concepts.
Examples of FEA, CFD, and Thrust testing used to analyze the benefits of different models.
October/November 2022 - The team starts to manufacture the Primary Aircraft and PADA V1
Left to Right: early Fuselage model, tensile testing of connection point to wings, later Fuselage model
Left to Right: Airfoil CNC milled from foam, Derik using a laser cut template to drill holes in foam, assembled tail structure
Left to Right: Time-lapse of main wing assembly, final wing structure
Clockwise from top left: Control horn cut from carbon fiber, ground station breadboard, custom DAS PCB, assembled DAS components, DAS case, final DAS set up
PADA V1 rib structure (later remodeled)
Mid November 2022 - The plane is ready for it's first test flight (No PADA, No Payload)
Maiden Flight 11/17/22
In November of 2022, the plane flew for the first time marking a successful design of the Primary Aircraft
December 2022 - Presentation for the Fall Engineering Symposium
February 2023 - The project picks up again in the spring semester, the team redesigns the PADA and a flight test with 5 lb of payload (PADA V1 plus water weight)
GIF of flight with 1lb PADA and 4lb Water (excuse the low-quality footage)
PADA V2, redesigned for rapid prototyping and flight stability. Not yet tested
More to come!
Donations
Our ASAE team is truly a family in which ASAE alumni come back to support and mentor the newest Senior Design team. To get next year's team started on the right foot to be able to pay for materials, transportation, and housing costs for the 2023-24 competition, we are asking that friends, family, and members of our communities can assist us in raising funds. The donation page is currently inactive but will be coming back soon!
Sponsors
Thank you to last year's generous sponsors for their support! We hope you decide to partner with us again.
