Drone Quadcopter Swarm Controller

In the Dynamics and Control Laboratory, I worked on a flight control system that lets drones navigate autonomous waypoints and respond to human input.

 To bridge simulation and reality, I programmed a 3D orbital mechanics simulator that allowed for real-time adjustments to orbital elements. I then implemented a coordinated quadcopter swarm where multiple drones used Lighthouse positioning stations to physically track and fly the trajectories generated by the orbital simulation.

In addition to standard flight, I use these drones to simulate complex physics like solar system dynamics and pendulum damping. By having the drones move in response to these simulated forces, I can demonstrate how autonomous vehicles interact with shifting trajectories and gravitational models.