Overview
Designed a one-hand-operable foldable landing gear for a 6 kg drone that reduces stowed volume by 70% at only 43g added mass. Modelled in SolidWorks, validated with static FEA in ANSYS and modal analysis — first natural frequency at 157 Hz, over 3x the operating frequency band (10–50 Hz), confirming no resonance risk during motor/propeller operation. Procured custom springs by back-calculating stiffness from Hooke's law. Primary structure CNC-machined from Al 6061; pivot pin turned on lathe in stainless steel for structural strength.
