Project Description:
"Project Huia is UC Aerospace's experimental aircraft program, focused on developing a high-performance Electric Ducted Fan (EDF) aircraft. The long-term objective is to exceed the current EDF RC speed record of 492 km/h, setting a new benchmark for student-developed aerospace vehicles. The aircraft is designed as a modular testbed for future high-speed development and record attempts."
— Source: UC Aerospace
Project Huia is currently in its design phase, with the aircraft being developed entirely by students across multiple engineering disciplines. I am a member of the Controls and Avionics team, responsible for the sensor suite, flight control algorithms, and the wireless communications stack that ties everything together. One of the key practical tests I have been involved in is characterising our EDF motor through wind tunnel testing. This involved designing the test rig and rigging equipment from scratch, as well as determining the sensors and data acquisition strategy to capture meaningful results. The goal was to produce a thrust curve across the motor's operating range. Data that will directly inform the flight control system design and validate our performance assumptions for the aircraft.
A primary challenge has been designing the avionics bay layout, fitting all components within tight spatial constraints while managing electromagnetic interference between systems. This required careful consideration of component placement, shielding, and cable routing to ensure sensors and communication hardware perform as intended in close proximity. A closely related challenge was collaborating with the structures team on material selection in areas surrounding RF antennas. Carbon fibre is highly conductive and effectively blocks RF signals, so identifying where fiberglass panels needed to replace carbon fibre, without compromising the structural integrity of the airframe. This required ongoing cross-team coordination and trade-off analysis.