Design engineering students develop unmanned air system for £2500

The UAS, which is the third to be designed by aerospace students at the University of Hertfordshire, has a wingspan of 3.5m and can reach a top speed of 70knots. During its construction, the team attempted to source the cheapest possible materials and to adopt a 'right first time' approach to minimise wastage. Dr Rashid Ali, senior lecturer at the School of Engineering and Technology, said: "They designed it to be versatile and to provide the basis for further development. There is a huge market for unmanned air vehicles mainly for military use. I am very proud of my students and the fact that it can take videos from the air and can recognise characters on the ground - not bad for a mere £2,500!" Three of the group who designed and built the UAS, received their degree certificates in Aerospace Systems Engineering on 19th November at the University's Awards ceremony at the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Albans.