I currently have a university project which involves a 3D printable UAV, which we are going to use for a number of civilian uses, mainly focusing on a rapid response role in Search and Rescue. Ideally, we would like to make as much of the UAV as possible printable on a 3D printer. This would ideally include the source of propulsion.

We are considering the use of electric or liquid fuel motors (as we ideally would like to make the UAV as cheap as possible).

A pulse jet (valveless or otherwise) has been suggested as a simple engine which we may be able to employ for the UAV, but I was wondering if anyone can recommend any other forms of simple engines wich may be suitable for this application?

Cheers

King:

What rapid prototyping / 3D printable materials will you be using? Are you able to print using metals? Any propulsion system involving combustion will require metals to withstand the heat.

I applaud you on your initiative to utilize rapid prototyping process to fabricate the components for a UAV.

Niel Leon
engineering.com

We're hoping to make the UAV body out of some form of plastic (still determining the material) but we will have to make the engine out of some sort of metal.

At the moment it's a theoretical exercise in the form of a major university project, but if we assume we will eventually get it manufactured, we will have the capability to get it made with both metals and plastics.