Mechatronics for Drones and Autonomous Vehicles

Master the technology of the future! Learn to design, assemble, and maintain drones and autonomous vehicles for aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Coordinator

Mário Santos

msantos@ispgaya.pt

Presentation

Automation and robotics are now pillars of modernization in strategic sectors such as precision agriculture, logistics, security, and environmental monitoring. This advancement is driven by the massive adoption of Cross-Domain Unmanned Vehicles (UxV), capable of operating in various environments.

The CTeSP in Mechatronics of Drones and Autonomous Vehicles at ISPGAYA emerges as a direct response to this market demand. The course trains specialized senior technicians capable of designing, assembling, configuring, and maintaining fleets of autonomous vehicles.

With a multi-domain approach (aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic), the training articulates a solid foundation in electronics, mechanics, and programming with cutting-edge areas such as sensor integration, autonomous navigation, and telemetry. The strong practical component, materialized in an integrative project and an internship in a real-world context, ensures the transposition of theoretical knowledge to the resolution of complex problems. Prepare yourself for the challenges of digital transformation and secure your place in an area with high global employability.

Graduate Activities

Analyze mission technical requirements to determine the most suitable hardware architecture (air, land, water), sensors, and power systems;
Assemble, configure, and calibrate unmanned vehicles from components, integrating the flight controller, propulsion system, power systems, and payloads;
Configure and test ground control stations (GCS) and telemetry links to ensure secure and uninterrupted communication with vehicles;
Design and manufacture custom parts and supports (via 3D printing or machining) for the mechanical integration of new sensors or equipment into the platform;
Design, assemble, and configure the hardware architecture of unmanned vehicles, integrating flight controllers, propulsion and power systems;
Diagnose faults and perform preventive and corrective maintenance on electronic and mechanical components of UxV platforms;
Ensure technical compliance of equipment with applicable aeronautical regulations (EASA/ANAC) and safety standards;
Integrate physically and electronically, calibrate, and test different types of sensors (RGB/thermal cameras, LiDAR, GPS/RTK, IMU) into mobile platforms for data collection;
Perform preventive and corrective maintenance on UxV fleets, diagnosing and repairing faults in electronic, electrical, and mechanical systems;
Program microcontrollers and develop automation scripts (e.g., in C/C++ or Python) for peripheral control and execution of specific hardware tasks;
Provide specialized technical support to operators and field teams, resolving complex hardware and software problems on-site;
Test and validate new hardware components, such as BLDC motors, ESCs, propellers, batteries, or antennas, to evaluate their performance and suitability for the system;
Use simulation software (e.g., Gazebo, AirSim) to test vehicle mechatronic configurations and validate system behavior before actual implementation;