A student-led nonprofit called Aeroptera has developed a foldable research drone frame designed to be 3D printed and made available for free. The Lace quadcopter features an 800mm motor-to-motor span and can fold down to fit in a backpack while maintaining functionality similar to commercial foldable drones. Nearly the entire airframe can be 3D printed, with STL files available at no cost to users.
The drone targets researchers and advanced builders who need a compact but capable platform. With a typical weight of about 3kg depending on configuration, the frame accommodates various motors, electronic speed controllers, propellers, and telemetry systems. The design specifically uses a Pixhawk 6C flight controller and 4S 4500 mAh battery, along with four 220mm carbon fiber tubes.
Aeroptera formed after its founders recognized that cost and availability often prevent environmental researchers from accessing drone technology. The nonprofit, comprised of high school and university students, aims to make research-capable drone platforms open source, affordable, and repairable through 3D printing. The organization has collaborated with engineers at Autel Robotics in Shenzhen and researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The current design evolved through multiple iterations after early prototypes failed to achieve proper flight performance. The team developed stronger joints and introduced a “Superclamp” folding mechanism to handle flight loads. The upcoming Lace II version will use carbon fiber reinforced PETG material and features canted motors for improved stiffness and resistance to deformation, with development support from researchers at the University of Iowa and University of Illinois Urbana Champaign.
Source: dronexl.co