The Team
In order to best facilitate the multi-disciplinary collaboration vital to both competition performance and the training of the next generation of engineers, the Design Build Fly Team at the University of Washington is divided into seven sub-teams. These teams act under the guidance of ten leads: seven specialists and three coordinators/directors.
Each team offers members the opportunity to obtain experience in work of their individual fields of interest and manages a design step or subsystem(s) critical to the design and fabrication of an aircraft.
Avionics & Propulsion Team
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Tests for optimal propulsion configurations
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Plans and integrates electronic subsystems
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Designs systems for data collection and telemetry
Manufacturing Team
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Leads the manufacturing and assembly of the aircraft
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Develops new manufacturing processes and refines current ones
Test Team
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Test components for reliability and efficiency
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Tests new and current materials to ensure the best performance
Business Team
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Manages the team budget, purchasing, and sponsorships
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Sets up and manages fundraising events
Media and Marketing Team
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Manages the team’s social media presence
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Creates promotional material for various events
Structures Team
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Designs and CADs the structure of the aircraft
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Works with other subteams to ensure effective integration and manufacturability
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Optimizes structural performance and durability using FEA
Aerodynamics Team
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Designs the external geometry of the aircraft
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Runs simulations and scripts to predict and optimize performance
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Analyzes test flight data for validation and further testing