Developed the SAIL (STEMnauts Atmosphere Independent Lander) payload for the Purdue University team's entry in the NASA SL competition. The quadcopter featured four BLDC motors and folding propellers, designed to autonomously deploy from the launch vehicle and conduct a parachute-free landing.
During ascent and descent under drogue parachute, the quadcopter remains secured and folded within the payload bay. At 400 ft AGL, an electronic latch releases the nose cone, allowing the payload bay to open and the SAIL to deploy. Once clear of the airframe, the drone's arms extend and can be manually piloted via RC to the desired landing zone.