Evaluation of Mechanical Strength Characteristics of Double Ducted Unmanned Amphibious Aerial Vehicle using Finite Element Analysis

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles are extensively exploited for diverse applications importantly surveillance, defence and military, photography. Development of unmanned amphibious vehicle with integrating features of hovercraft principles and multirotor to navigate along and above the water surface, land surface and flying in the air is challenging demand. This article presents conceptual design of amphibious vehicle for the payload capacity of 7 kg with an endurance of 20 minutes and provision for mounting water sampler to collect water samples in remote water bodies. Structural strength characteristics of each part of the amphibious vehicle and integrity of same are analysed by Finite Element Analysis. FEA results indicated that the designed amphibious vehicle structure is well within the stress limit and minimal displacement is obtained. Based on structural analysis materials for various parts of the amphibious vehicle are determined and integrated structure is analysed.