Major mechanical and structural components of a drone

A drone system is a robotic system that is composed of electro-mechanical systems for all its functions. A mechanical system is called a skeleton, the drone under which all the avionics system works. The mechanical system holds the avionics system firmly with it with appropriate strength so that it can take maneuver forces upon it to its limits.

We will study here the major mechanical and structural components of a drone, which are required to hold different parts and have their independent functionalities.

Airframe

The airframe is the main skeleton of a drone, which holds all avionics components in position and helps them to be mounted and fit firmly without any vibrations and loose fitting during the flight. It works as the main body of the drone, which gives the system a proper shape and size, confines all modules, and protects them from direct exposure to the external environment:

Figure 1.12 – A hexacopter carbon fiber airframe

A complete airframe is composed of the following subcomponents:

• Motor mounts: Places to hold the motors using screws or other materials:

Figure 1.13 – A motor mount

• Arms: Tubes/pipes between the main body and motor mounts are called arms. These are used as a stiff mechanical structure to lift the main body and wiring between motors and the main body:

Figure 1.14 – An arm set

• Hub: The hub is the place where the main avionics, such as flight controllers, the Global Positioning System (GPS), and other components, are placed with due interfacing and connection, which helps the system to get the necessary data to process. Arms are attached to the hub and extended outside:

Figure 1.15 – A drone hub

• Landing gear: This is also attached to the hub extending downward. This helps the drone to land on different terrains and also keeps adequate ground clearance for the safety of the payload:

Figure 1.16 – A landing gear

In terms of the features of a mechanical airframe, the following is recommended:

• The airframe should be symmetrical from all aspects on the x, y, and z axes
• Manufacturing of the airframe is to be done from lightweight materials such as carbon fiber, glass fiber, and the like
• A screwless design would be even more helpful for stability and performance