Reduced Gravity Flight: TEARD0P

Group 32: Andrew Brahim (EE), Jourdain Francis (CpE)

Project Sponsored by Northrup Grumman

Description: The Terrestrial Experimentation and Research Drone Regulating 0-G Parabola [TEARDR0P]. We were given a proposal from Northrop Grumman to make a drone-based system to carry a payload for experimentation at predetermined altitudes for free fall drops or parabolic flight. This project set out to create reduced gravity conditions via drone flight for a length of time necessary for payload experiments to be recorded. The payload environment must also be recorded and instrumentation such as drag, acceleration, temperature, and velocity are necessary. We were tasked to work with an assortment of other engineers from the Mechanical and Aerospace (MAE) and Computer Science (CS) department. Specifically, Electrical and Computer (ECE) engineers have designed the power distribution circuit, implemented an embedded system required for sensor data logging, and developed and configured the control system.

Microgravity Green Team

The Mechanical and Aerospace team consisted of Jake Campbell, Carlo Ferretti, Ian Manley, Jonathan McConnell, Andrea Miller, and Francisco Poller. Their department took charge of designing and developing the reduced gravity drone. The ECE department acquired and configured the technology to fit the design constraints set by this team. This team also produced the flight path that the drone followed in order to achieve reduced gravity results.


The Computer Science team consisted of Trent Freeman and Allen Shearin. This team created the front end for data processing as well as assisted in creating an autonomous development environment capable of ensuring reduced gravity. Their web-based front end enabled for the user-friendly graphics produced from the data recorded during the flight.


The Electrical and Computer Engineering team consisted of Andrew Brahim and Jourdain Francis. Our team managed the GPS and compass configuration, power distribution, speed controller selection, the printed circuit board, flight controller configuration, firmware management, and the receiver and transmitter.


Jourdain Francis

Jourdain Francis will be graduating with his undergraduate degree in Computer Engineering in Spring of 2018. He currently works as a software engineering intern at L3 Mobile Vision. Upon graduation, Jourdain intends to move to Baltimore, Maryland in order to start his Master’s degree at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in Computer Engineering. Jourdain’s primary interest are Software Development and Embedded Systems. For this project, he managed prototyping and data collection, firmware integration and configuration, and simulation.

Andrew Brahim

Andrew Brahim is presently a senior at the University of Central Florida. He intends to graduate with his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in May of 2018. He is currently working at Mitsubishi Hitachi Power systems as an Engineering Associate, Instrumentation and Controls. He has no plans for graduate studies, however he has accepted an offer to work full time in the aerospace industry. Andrew’s primary interests are computer simulation, sensors and instrumentation, and vehicle dynamics and control systems. For this project, he managed power distribution, the printed circuit board, and simulation.

Project Images

team pic

Team photo including all departments (ECE, MAE, and CS)
drone design

Initial drone design
final drone

Final drone used in flight

TEARDR0P Final Flight

Final flight of our drone achieving a height over 75 meters while producing reduced gravity


Project Documentation

Title Description File
Project Description Initial Divide and Conquer Document Divide and Conquer
EEL 4914 Documentation Final Documentation for Senior Design 1 SD1 Final Paper
Critical Design Review CDR Presentation CDR
Conference Paper 8 page Conference Paper Conference Paper
Final Presentation Final Presentation for Senior Design 2 Final Presentation
EEL 4915 Documentation Final Documentation for Senior Design 2 SD2 Final Documentation
PCB Final Flight Recording PCB Accelerometer Reading (Time Accel-X Accel-Y Accel-Z) in m/s/s PCB Results
First Clean Reduced Gravity Log Reduced Gravity Flight Results 0G Flight Log
Final Reduced Gravity Log Final Flight Reduced Gravity Flight Results Final Flight Log