VARS Abstract Solid Modeling Spring 2017 Class Work Supervisor: Jesus Galaz
I designed this drone for the brand, DroneDeploy. DroneDeploy is a software company that provides aerial mapping data service to its users. Using its special app, the user can get geological information quickly and easily. Since the company doesn’t have their own drone, I suggested a user-friendly and futuristic looking drone that represents its brand image. For the modeling, I mainly used Solidworks 3D program. I found the proper size through 3D printing and learned how to convey the concept using different types of programs such as Keyshot, Photoshop, and Illustrator.
INTRODUCTION WHO IS DRONEDEPLOY?
WHY A MAPPING DRONE?
DroneDeploy is a software company that provides aerial mapping data service to its users; construction workers, farmers, researchers, and so on.
Using its special app, the user can get geological information quickly and easily. But the company doesn’t have their own drone; it has used other makers’ drone (usually DJI’s).
USER & ENVIRONMENT CONSTRUCTION WORKER
Manage, measure, and communicate with co-workers
FARMER
Monitor, scan, and protect crops from parasites
RESEARCHER
Save time, collect data, get better insights efficiently
USER SCENARIO
#01 Insert the battery and turn on the drone.
Orthomosaics
Terrain models
NDVI analysis
#02 Select area using DroneDeploy’s app.
#03 The drone will start mapping autonomously.
#05 The user receives data to a smartphone or laptop.
#06 The user can control the drone manually.
3D models
#04 A 180Âş camera collects different types of information.
WHAT DO I NEED
Propeller Circuit
4 propellers that make a drone fly safely
Battery
A circuit that connects parts and makes a decision
Plenty capacity for flying and capturing scene
Wire
Light
Simple and well-organized wire for supplying power
Light that helps the user find the drone in the dark
Camera A camera that can capture wide-angle view
Dynamic
PRODUCTS POSITIONING ANALYSIS
Friendly
Stable
Aggressive
Most drones looked too aggressive and conventional to the users. After analysis of DroneDeploy’s services and design language, I suggested a friendly and stable but also professional drone that makes the users get inspired by it.
Dynamic
MOOD POSITIONING ANALYSIS
Aggressive
Friendly
Stable
Spatial Structural Understated
By analysis, I tried to find what form and detail elements affect mood. To me, linear and angled elements represent aggression, and rounded and organic forms make me feel friendliness. Sharp and rapid form transitions give dynamic feeling and gentle and flat forms make me feel stability.
INSPIRATION BOARD SPATIAL
STRUCTURAL
UNDERSTATED
From product & mood analysis, I got 3 keywords for my drone: spatial, structural, and understated. ‘Spatial’ reflected soft and stable volume. ‘Structural’ meant stable and numerical form. ‘Understated’ represented professional and modern design language.
IDEATION
Through the ideation sketch, I figured out the inner composition and the overall shape. I wanted to make a round and soft, but also a sleek form. The inner components, such as wires and a circuit, are completely enclosed and every part is linked closely.
MODELING PROCESS
Start modeling from a simple shape
Make the shape with numeric controls
Consider detail elements
Make a camera and multiple lenses
See the interactions between parts
Using Keyshot, check materials
The shape of the drone is rounded so that the user can grab it easily and the size is small enough to carry. I went back and forth from the mockup to the digital model.
EXPLODED VIEW
1. Body Frame
2. Li-Ion Battery 3. CCW Propeller x2 4. CW Propeller x2 5. Motor x4
6. Circuit Board
7. Camera
8. Wire x4 9. LED x4
10. Rubber Pad x4
DETAIL VIEWS
The handheld scale enclosed body makes the drone user-friendly.
Every part is considered to be integrated and the inner parts fit into the shell perfectly
It has a 180ยบ HD camera that gathers several types of geographic information
Conclusion In this class, I learned advanced Solidworks surfacing skills. During the project, I found my design language. Usually, in the main product classes, I couldn’t focus on the aesthetic aspect because we, as product design students, usually spend more time on the research phase. However, because it was about learning the 3D CAD program, I already knew how to use it a little bit, and was able to focus on developing the concept and the aesthetic appeal. Finally, I found this design shows my design preference.