A major effort has been refining the design and construction of the safety cage for the test stands. Additionally we are designing a system for wire control in the testing area to ensure wires are safely out of the way and for an overall cleaner look. While the frame is nearly complete, the chicken wire still needs to be installed for complete protection during testing.

Initial tests with a sample motor and propeller provided thrust and torque data, but an issue with the motor not ramping up power consistently caused auto shutdowns. This issue, along with finalizing the safety cage wiring, must be resolved before moving forward.

So the testing remains on hold until we can purchase the necessary propellers. Compounding this delay, the water jet system required for fabricating beam prototypes is still currently out of service. In the meantime we have been researching and drafting frame designs to ensure once testing of the beam prototypes is complete we can be ready for next steps. 

Although these setbacks have slowed our progress, we’re excited to tackle these challenges and take the next steps in bringing our vision for the Y6 drone to life. Check back soon for more updates on our progress!