Description

The Scorpio S.R.P was designed and engineered to be the ultimate multi-purpose search and recovery platform. The design freedom facilitated by additive manufacturing allowed the design to be as lightweight as possible while enhancing the structural optimization to as much as the build material allowed. This design was inspired by a creature of nature, the scorpion. The design was initially designed around the crab, but was exceeded by the scorpion because of the added benefit of the tail for the system to be truly successful. With its highly configurable and modular design, the accessories can be fitted to the drone with the tools needed for the mission. Here are a few scenarios that the Scorpio S.R.P is suited for: 1. Search Missions In the event of, for instance, a plane crash in the mountains at night, the Scorpio S.R.P drone can be launched ahead of rescuers because of difficult terrain to locate the crash site and ultimately survivors quickly and efficiently. The system can be configured with a night vision camera and a whole range of sensors such as infrared and radar to make the search mission an easier task. In the tail are four (4) locator beacons which are activated when deployed when survivors or the crash site is found. The drone then continues to find other sites of interest to deploy more beacons making the job of the rescuers a lot easier. 2. Recovery Missions In a situation where small objects are located in areas that are dangerous and difficult for humans to reach, the Scorpio S.R.P drone is suitable to recover these items. For instance, if evidence of a crime or accident is located up high in a tree or far down in a crevasse, the use of the two forward claws and lower leg crane are more than sufficient for the job. These are only a few applications of the Scorpio S.R.P made only possible with additive manufacturing. Here are a few extra things I'd like to mention: 1. Even though the structure will be optimized based on the build material for mass and strength, the added electronics and batteries will decrease the useful payload, range and run time of the drone. Using my experience as an aircraft engineer, my suggestion would be to modify the airframe of the drone to accommodate a more powerful powerplant of up to 9" props, keeping the rest of the airframe relatively the same. Prototype testing would determine the optimum configuration. 2. The components of the Scorpio S.R.P would need to be sized appropriately with each other for proper weight and balance characteristics. The Horus Kestrel 3D is the perfect drone for this system mainly because the tail does not interfere with the rear props. 3. This Scorpio S.R.P model was not made with any particular electronics in mind and would therefore need to be redesigned once they are selected. Thank you Fathom for facilitating such an awesome challenge and I hope this system is further developed and actually go into service saving many lives.