PICO TALON

This project documents my end-to-end development and flight-testing of a Pico Talon–based fixed-wing UAV, where I took the aircraft from raw 3D-printed components through full avionics integration and iterative flight evaluation. I fabricated and assembled the airframe using LW-PLA and carbon-fiber spars, reinforced critical load paths, and adapted internal layouts to accommodate flight-control hardware, power distribution, GPS, receiver, and FPV systems.

On the avionics side, I integrated and configured a high-performance flight controller, ESC, motor, servos, and telemetry links, performing detailed wiring, soldering, and power-budget management. I set up and tuned the flight-control firmware, verified sensor orientation and calibration, established flight modes, and iteratively adjusted center-of-gravity, control throws, and propulsion parameters based on test results. Multiple test flights were used to diagnose stability issues, evaluate propulsion and launch behavior, and refine configuration choices such as CG placement and propeller selection.

Overall, this project emphasizes practical UAV systems engineering: translating design intent into a flyable platform, debugging real-world integration issues, and applying flight data and observation to improve performance and reliability.