Talos 1

Talos 1 (T1) is the first drone developed by Team Daedalus to use a carbon fiber wing and a T-tail configuration. The design and manufacturing of T1 has helped to develop our understanding of composite materials, pushing the team into a new domain of airframe construction.

The airframe was designed around a carbon fiber wing with a conventional T-tail empennage connected by a carbon tube boom. The fuselage was 3D-printed from nylon and housed all the avionics and power systems. The power system consisted of a T-Motor F90 brushless motor, a 4S 1500 mAh LiPo battery, and a 7×4 propeller.

The carbon fiber manufacturing process was a significant learning experience for the team. From cutting and laying up the carbon fiber sheets, to vacuum bagging and curing, each step was carefully documented. The wing skins were produced using a wet layup process with epoxy resin, and the team developed best practices for future composite builds.

Unfortunately, T1's flight attempt ended in a crash as it was overweight, weighing in at 2.0 kg. The only thing that survived the crash airframe-wise was the carbon fiber wing, which remained unscathed aside from a scratch or two—a testament to the strength and durability of our composite layup. The insights gained from designing, manufacturing, and analyzing the crash of T1 proved incredibly valuable, informing the team's approach to future composite builds.