Drone Project

Wheaton engineers have the option to participate in several extracurricular clubs and projects in the department, including the Ingenium projects. I joined the Ingenium Drone project, which had not been able to test the flight capabilities of its drone since before the COVID-19 lockdowns. Old knowledge was lost and progress slowed over the course of my first year. Eager to create an environment in which the project (and its team members) flourished, I applied to lead the project.

As the leader the following year, I learned how to combine flexibility in team-building with the intentional pursuit of improvement. I learned how to let go of established designs and return to the drawing board to prevent stagnation and encourage everyone on the team to contribute. I personally developed the electronics and overall mechanical design of the drone. Under my leadership, the team performed the first test flight of the drone in over two years.