MIT-ADT students & alumnus build, fly unmanned aircraft

Pune: Aerospace engineering students of MIT Art, Design and Technology University (MIT-ADT) started what was meant to be a final year project, but turned into a full-fledged unmanned aircraft that did a successful test flight on May 4 in Dhule

They designed, developed and flew a radio-controlled electric aircraft. The university claimed it was one of the largest and heaviest in its category in India. The aircraft featured a 9.25-metre wingspan and weighed 261 kg. The students are now looking at applications in electric vertical take-off and landing (e-VTOL) and defence technologies.

MIT-ADT alumnus Sateesh Kache (26) said, “The initial thought was to build a manned aircraft for our final year project, but there are many regulations in the country making it impossible. Therefore, we converted it into an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Classmate Shivam Borade and I started to make the prototype in 2023. Our college authorities saw promise in the work and extended the funding to make the UAV.”

Kache decided to continue work on the project with a team of students from his alma mater after he graduated. “I would have worked only on some part of a big project, if I had taken up a job. Here, I had the opportunity to work with each and every aspect, make mistakes and learn from it all. Currently, we have 27 people in the team. When one batch passed out, another replaced them — allowing all the students on the project to gain hands-on experience,” he said.

Initially, things did not go as planned. “Our first attempt to fly was in Uruli Kanchan in May 2024. The UAV did take off, but the weight was too much for the propulsion system leading to a hard landing and minor damages. The propulsion system was expensive, so we decided to reduce the weight. We also made some aerodynamic and stability related changes which did not bode well. In the next attempt in Aug 2024, it crashed again,” said Kache.

The team realised the original design was perfect. The only need was to change the propulsion system to sustain the weight. “The institute helped us with the money again and our aircraft flew on May 4 at a runway in Dhule,” added Kache.

The total funding amount of Rs48 lakh was sanctioned for the project under the Centre for Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Young Aspirants by MIT-ADT.

Kache said they were looking to establish a startup venture by repurposing the UAV into an e-VTOL electric air taxi prototype. “There is a lot of buzz around air taxies and we are thinking on those lines. The aircraft, with some modifications, can carry up to 100 kg of load. The flight time is 10 minutes, but can be worked on,” he added.