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SUAS is part of the , a student organization that competes annually in . The event challenges teams from around the world to design autonomous aircraft capable of completing complex mission tasks, including navigation, object detection, payload delivery and mapping.

This year’s aircraft represents a major technical leap for the team.

“Last year, endurance was one of our biggest limitations,” said Tyler Schubert, SUAS Club President. “With a multirotor configuration, we had to sacrifice payload just to meet the minimum flight time. The fixed-wing VTOL gives us efficient forward flight while still allowing automated takeoff and landing, which lets us compete at a much higher level.”

Engineering a Hybrid Platform

The aircraft is being built entirely in-house by an interdisciplinary team of students, many of whom are enrolled in Embry-Riddle’s uncrewed systems and engineering programs. The design combines the efficiency of a fixed-wing aircraft with the flexibility of vertical takeoff, enabling autonomous operation in constrained environments.

So far, the team has completed all major aerodynamic components, including the wings and tail surfaces, while continuing to iterate on the fuselage design. The fuselage is being constructed as a fiberglass monocoque shell, a method chosen for its strength-to-weight ratio and internal volume for housing avionics, payload systems and onboard electronics.

“The fuselage has been the most time-consuming part of the build,” said David Zink, Build Lead. “Working with fiberglass requires careful mold design, material selection and precise layup, but it gives us durability and performance that’s worth the extra effort.”

The team is using a combination of balsa wood, aluminum, carbon fiber, PLA and fiberglass, constructing the aircraft similarly to a high-performance RC platform while integrating professional-grade systems.

Real-World Systems Engineering

Rather than developing flight-critical software from scratch, the SUAS team is using a Pixhawk Cube flight controller, an industry-standard platform widely used in professional uncrewed systems. This allows students to focus on system integration, mission logic and operational testing.

“We validate everything through sensor calibration, preflight checks and conservative test flights,” said Hunter Oppedal, Software Lead. “Using proven hardware reduces risk and lets us spend more time on autonomy and mission performance.”

The team’s approach mirrors real-world uncrewed aircraft development, emphasizing reliability, scheduling, performance constraints and iterative testing.

Learning Through Failure and Iteration

While the aircraft has not yet entered full flight testing, the team is already applying lessons learned from last year’s competition, which revealed critical integration challenges, including system conflicts and failed autonomous sequences.

“That experience completely reshaped how we approach this project,” Schubert said. “We’re prioritizing early testing and systems integration instead of leaving everything to the last month.”

Those lessons have already led to design changes, including a redesigned tail configuration to improve directional stability and control.

Faculty Perspective

According to Assistant Professor of Aeronautical Science Avinash Muthu Krishnan, projects like SUAS provide exactly the kind of experiential learning students need to succeed in the uncrewed systems industry.

“SUAS places students in a true systems engineering environment,” said Krishnan. “They are not just learning how individual components work, they are learning how complex subsystems interact, how design tradeoffs affect performance and how to manage real engineering constraints. That mindset is what prepares them for industry.”

Preparing the Next Generation of Uncrewed Engineers

For many students, SUAS has reshaped their career goals entirely.

“Before joining, I hadn’t seriously considered working in uncrewed systems,” said Schubert. “Now I see how rapidly this field is growing, from logistics and commercial operations to humanitarian and defense applications. It’s completely changed how I think about my future in aerospace.”

As the team moves toward flight testing and final integration, the SUAS project continues to serve as a living laboratory for Embry-Riddle students, bridging classroom theory with hands-on engineering and preparing them for the evolving demands of the uncrewed aviation industry.