Arpit's AIR Level 2 Report

30 / 3 / 2025

TASK: FLYING THE AIRBLOCK DRONE

INTRODUCTION

-The Airblock Drone is a modular, programmable drone designed for education and STEM learning, particularly for beginners and students. It was created by Makeblock, a company specializing in educational robotics and coding platforms.
-Airblock is made of magnetic, modular parts that are easy to assemble and disassemble without the need for tools. Airblock has two main modes: hexacopter drone and hovercraft, but with its modularity we can create even more modes. Airblock is made of lightweight, engineered foam that is soft, strong and durable.

PILOTING EXPERIENCE

-With the help of a coordinator, I had the opportunity to fly the Airblock drone. -Assembling the drone was very easy because of its magnetic modular design, enabling quick setup without the need for tools. Once assembled, we connected the drone to the Makeblock App via Bluetooth. The app's UI was very attractive, and offered several options for doing stunts mid-flight such as roll, shake, etc.
-After getting the green light from the coordinator, it was time to experience the thrill of drone flying. I learnt how to start and take off the drone in the app. It was important to maintain safe distance from the people in the surroundings to avoid any harm. Landing the drone was easy and touchdown was very smooth. It is important to practice gradual descents because sudden drops can damage the drone.

CHARACTERISTICS OF AIRBLOCK DRONE

Design: The central hub is the Main Master Module connected with 6 power modules which can be attached magnetically. Power modules contains the propellers. Among these 6 power modules, three power modules are of red color and other three are of black color, which are connected alternatively. The essence of this is that three power modules rotate in clockwise while the other three rotate in anti-clockwise, providing stability during flying.
-It can be compared to Boeing CH-47 Chinook, which has two large, counter-rotating rotors, one in front and one behind, instead of a single rotor with a tail rotor, which helps with stability and maneuverability, especially when carrying heavy loads.

Material: The drone is made of STYROFOAM, which is responsible for the lightweight property of the drone, which helps in better speed and easy handling.

• The app provides several modes to work with the drones.

TASK: Regulations of DGCA

Objective: Learn about ICAO, SARPS, QCI, BIS, stakeholders, and their basic laws.
Outcomes and Learnings: I learned about several abbreviations of drone and aircraft flying such as: \

At INDIA Level

1. DGCA: Directorate General of Civil Aviation, is India's regulatory body for civil aviation, primarily focused on safety, responsible for regulating air transport services, enforcing civil air regulations
2. MoCA: Ministry of Civil Aviation, is responsible for formulating national policies and programs for the development and regulation of the civil aviation sector, including air transport services, airport facilities, and air traffic services.
3. QCI: The Quality Council of India, works to promote and ensure quality standards across various sectors in India, including education, healthcare, environment, and infrastructure, through accreditation, quality campaigns, and capacity building.

At the GLOBAL Level

1. ICAO: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), is a United Nations agency that coordinates international air navigation principles
2. SARPs: Standards and Recommended Practices. Its aim is to achieve uniformity in aviation regulations, standards, procedures, and organization, aiming to facilitate and improve air navigation

Specific Country

1. AIP: Aeronautical Information Publication, provides comprehensive and updated information about air navigation facilities, services, and procedures within a specific country's airspace.

Stakeholders

In the aviation industry, key stakeholders include passengers, airlines, airports, aviation manufacturers, regulatory bodies (like the FAA), investors, employees, and communities, all with diverse interests and expectations.

DRONE REGULATIONS:

As of March 2025, India's drone regulations are primarily governed by the Drone Rules, 2021, along with subsequent amendments. These regulations categorize drones based on their weight and specify the requirements for registration, pilot certification, and operational guidelines.

Drone Categories:

a. Nano Drones: Up to 250 grams.
b. Micro Drones: 250 grams to 2 kilograms.
c. Small Drones: 2 to 25 kilograms.
d. Medium Drones: 25 to 150 kilograms.
e. Large Drones: Above 150 kilograms.

Airspace Requirements

In India, drone airspace is categorized into green, yellow, and red zones.
Green zones: allows drone operations up to 400 feet without permission.
Yellow zones: requires permission from relevant authorities.
Red zones: no-drone zones requiring central government permission.

Drone Airspace Map for Bengaluru

References:

1. Digital Sky : for the Airspace Map.
2. The Drone Rules 2021

BVLOS stands for Beyond Visual Line of Sight. It refers to drone operations where the drone is flown beyond the pilot's ability to see it with the naked eye, relying on telemetry and other technologies for remote control and monitoring.
BVLOS operations often require specific permits and approvals from aviation authorities, such as the Ministry of Civil Aviation in India.
Common BVLOS use cases include inspecting remote or large-scale infrastructure, such as oil pipelines, wind farms, and power transmission lines. BVLOS is also used in emergency response scenarios, like Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs, where drones are deployed to survey incidents before ground units arrive.

TASK: Introduction to Aerodynamics and Aircraft Structures

Objectives:
• Study Bernoulli’s Principle, Newton’s Third Law in aviation, and aerodynamic forces.
• Understand lift, drag, thrust, weight, and stability.
• Learn about primary and secondary control surfaces.

Outcomes and Learnings:
Bernoulli's Principle: It is a key concept in fluid dynamics, which states that as the speed of a fluid increases, the pressure within the fluid decreases.

This principle is based on the conservation of energy, meaning the total energy of a fluid remains constant as it flows, and it applies to both liquids and gases. Essentially, a faster-moving fluid exerts less pressure, and a slower-moving fluid exerts more pressure. \

Newton's Third Law in Aviation: When an airfoil, like a wing or a propeller, moves through the air, it forces the air downward (action). According to Newton's third law, there's an equal and opposite reaction that results in a lift, pushing the airfoil and the attached aircraft upward.

Aerodynamic Forces: The primary aerodynamic forces acting on an aircraft are lift, weight, thrust, and drag. These forces are fundamental to flight, balancing each other to enable an aircraft to stay aloft and move through the air.

Stability: In aircraft, stability refers to the tendency to return to a balanced state after being disturbed.
Factors Affecting Stability:
Aircraft Design: Wing shape, tail size, and wing placement all affect stability.
Weight Distribution: The center of gravity plays a crucial role in stability.
Airflow: The way air flows over the aircraft also influences stability.

Aircraft Control Surfaces: Primary control surfaces are essential for basic flight maneuvers, including ailerons (for roll), elevators (for pitch), and rudder (for yaw).
Secondary control surfaces enhance performance and flight characteristics, including flaps, slats, spoilers, and trim tabs.