Mazari VTOL platform using cots autopilot

In its effort to develop unmanned autonomous systems research capabilities, the college of engineering is adding a rotary wing UAV to its research activities. This paper demonstrates the use of Maxi Joker 3 commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) electric RC helicopter as a platform and implementing it with COTS autopilot system to serve as a benchmark for future AUS rotary wing in-house autopilot development. Many problems and issues were experienced during the flights, such us mechanical vibrations, acoustic noise, and autopilot failure during the flight and consequently crashing the platform. All of those problems were solved inside the lab on a test stand which was designed to fly and test the helicopter avoiding crashing and without a skilled pilot sometimes.