TITLE:
Design and Implementation of a UAV Platform for Educational Applications: A Multi-Disciplinary Engineering Approach
AUTHORS:
Hussien Elharati, Abdulhamid Zaidi, Mohamad Izdin Hlal, Mickelange Prince, Omar Beg
KEYWORDS:
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), SolidWorks, Flight Controller, Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID), Microcontroller, Six Degrees of Freedom (6-DOF)
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Engineering and Technology,
Vol.13 No.3,
August
22,
2025
ABSTRACT: The contemporary educational landscape is increasingly shaped by the need to align with rapid technological advancements. This calls for a reevaluation of academic programs and a focus on cultivating adaptable, skilled individuals capable of meeting evolving industrial demands. This paper presents the design, development, and experimental evaluation of a low-cost Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) based on the Arduino microcontroller platform. The UAV system comprises key components such as an inertial measurement unit (IMU), electronic speed controllers (ESCs), and brushless DC motors, all governed by a custom-built Arduino-based flight controller. The design emphasizes modularity, affordability, and ease of replication, rendering it highly suitable for educational and research purposes. Detailed discussions are provided on the system architecture, sensor integration, flight control algorithms, and wireless communication mechanisms. Experimental testing, corroborated by simulation, demonstrates that the UAV achieves a payload capacity of approximately 0.6 kg, which meets the design objectives. The project offers a practical, interdisciplinary learning platform, equipping students with essential competencies in embedded systems, control engineering, and mechatronic system integration skills that are directly transferable to contemporary engineering practice.