Design and Fabrication of Surveillance Drone

Abstract

The growing demand for real-time monitoring and security has driven the innovation of advanced aerial surveillance systems. This project focuses on the design and fabrication of a compact and cost-effective surveillance drone capable of remote-controlled operations. The drone integrates a lightweight quadcopter frame with high-efficiency brushless motors, GPS for navigation, and a real-time video transmission system utilizing a high-resolution camera and wireless communication module. Powered by rechargeable lithium polymer batteries, the drone is equipped to perform surveillance tasks in both urban and rural environments. The onboard microcontroller, coupled with stabilization sensors such as gyroscopes and accelerometers, ensures flight stability and manoeuvrability. This project aims to enhance situational awareness in defense, disaster management, and public safety applications the fabricated drone is tested for flight endurance, camera clarity, and transmission range to validate its suitability and practical surveillance missions.

Introduction

Drones (UAVs) have transformed industries like security, agriculture, shipping, and environmental monitoring by enabling remote access, real-time data gathering, and autonomous operations. This project aims to develop an advanced drone tailored for specific tasks, utilizing lightweight materials, efficient engines, precise navigation, and smart sensors to enhance performance in diverse applications such as infrastructure surveillance, disaster response, and resource management, while complying with safety and legal standards.

Literature Review

Recent studies explore the integration of drones with IoT (Internet of Drones) for enhanced connectivity and efficiency in surveillance, agriculture, logistics, and environmental monitoring. Key challenges include security, privacy, and system optimization. Innovations include gesture-controlled drones, collaborative drone networks for smart cities, and advanced drone detection systems.

Working Principle

The surveillance drone is equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors, flying autonomously via GPS or remote control along programmed routes. It captures real-time video and images, transmitting data to ground stations for immediate monitoring or later analysis. It takes off manually or automatically and returns to the launch point after completing missions.

Design and Performance

• Key specs: 2.5–3 kg total weight, 5000 mAh battery, quadcopter or fixed-wing configuration.

• Power: Quadcopter motors draw about 700 W total; fixed-wing drones use less power due to better aerodynamics.

• Flight time: Realistic endurance ranges from ~20–30 minutes for quadcopters to 60–90 minutes for fixed-wing.

• Range: Quadcopter’s practical range is 5–7 km; fixed-wing can reach 30–50 km.

• Payload: Cameras and sensors weighing 0.5–1 kg.

• Communication: Video streaming requires 5–50 Mbps with latencies under 200 ms.

Operational Notes

• Quadcopters are suited for short-range, detailed monitoring; fixed-wing drones excel in long-range surveillance.

• Environmental factors like wind, temperature, and rain affect performance.

• Regulatory limits on altitude (usually 120 m) and range apply, with licensing requirements for commercial use.

Results

The drone system integrates hardware and software to control motors, sensors, and navigation. Safety features include automatic return-to-home if signal is lost and stabilization in high winds. A protective cover for the circuit board was designed to prevent damage from environmental exposure, improving durability and reliability.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Dr. T. Elango, B. Venkatesh, P. MahaLakshmi Naidu, Y. Pavan Naga Gopi , G. Hari Krishna. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.