I built a flying car! (eVTOL)

Alan Zhang

22 Jan 202411:45

Summary

TLDRThe script documents an engineering student's journey to build a flying EVITO, a project initiated in October 2023. It showcases the excitement of assembling parts, the challenges of manufacturing, and the collaboration with peers. Despite setbacks like a broken extruder cover, the project progresses with the help of a supportive network and the student's determination. The video ends with a plan to redesign and manufacture more parts, aiming for a successful flight by summer, enticing viewers to follow the project's ongoing development.

Takeaways

🛠️ The speaker is undertaking an engineering project to build an 'evito', a vehicle that is intended to fly.
📅 The project started in October 2023 and the script documents the progress throughout the winter.
🎵 The transcript includes several instances of music and applause, indicating a video format with these elements.
🤝 The speaker mentions meeting Cameron and Chandler in Mait, who run a business connecting student organizations and companies with machine shops.
🔨 The manufacturing process is described as being labor-intensive, with the speaker hitting a print off the bed with a hammer for 10 minutes.
💡 The project involves designing and 3D printing parts, with the speaker discussing the design and functionality of the evito.
🚫 There are setbacks, such as a broken extruder cover and support pieces, which require problem-solving and redesign.
🛒 The speaker had to purchase an expensive flight controller, described as being like an Android phone.
📦 The speaker's father helped by carrying a large amount of packages from China, which were essential for the project.
🔧 The team attended CES 2024 to learn about the industry and network with professionals, including VPs from a large eVTOL firm.
🔄 Despite structural integrity issues, the speaker plans to redesign and manufacture more parts, aiming to have the evito airborne by the summer.

Q & A

What project did the speaker undertake during the winter?
-The speaker decided to build another version of an 'evito', which is intended to fly.
When did the speaker start the project mentioned in the script?
-The project began in October 2023.
What is the purpose of the business that Cameron and Chandler are involved with?
-Cameron and Chandler's business connects student organizations and companies with nearby machine shops, facilitating access to manufacturing resources.
What is the approximate size of the 'evito' being built?
-The 'evito' is about 130 cm in size.
What problem did the speaker encounter with the manufacturing process?
-The speaker faced issues with the extruder cover and one of the support pieces breaking during the manufacturing process.
What is the significance of the fly controller mentioned in the script?
-The fly controller is described as being very expensive and resembling an Android phone, indicating its advanced capabilities and importance in controlling the 'evito'.
What event did the speaker and their team attend?
-They attended CES 2024, where they learned about the industry and the latest technologies related to flying vehicles.
Who did the speaker have dinner with during CES 2024?
-The speaker had dinner with two VPs from Xang Aohd, the largest 'Evo' firm in Asia.
What structural issues did the 'evito' face that required redesign?
-There were problems with the structural integrity of the 'evito', which necessitated a redesign to address these issues.
What are the speaker's plans for the next two months regarding the 'evito' project?
-The speaker plans to make modifications to the design and manufacture more parts, with the hope of reassembling the 'evito' by spring break.
What is the speaker's timeline for getting the 'evito' airborne?
-The speaker hopes to have the 'evito' airborne by the beginning of June, after reassembling it during the spring break and making further modifications.

Outlines

00:00

🛠️ Building an EVITO Drone

The script begins with the narrator expressing the challenges and joys of engineering, particularly in building an EVITO drone designed to fly. The project started in October 2023, and the narrator shares their excitement as they make progress on the build. They mention collaborating with Cameron and Chandler through a student organization that connects with local machine shops, indicating a community effort. The manufacturing process is highlighted, with the narrator spending a lot of time at Jacobs, a place where they feel like they live due to frequent visits. The assembly includes a complex part that they are eager to see in motion once completed.

05:06

📱 High-Tech Drone Assembly and Challenges

In this paragraph, the focus shifts to the acquisition of an expensive flight controller resembling an Android phone, which is central to the drone's operation. The narrator describes the process of assembling the drone, including the excitement of seeing the mystery colors and the disappointment when the extruder cover and a support piece break. Despite setbacks, they manage to get the drone fully functional, showcasing a sense of achievement. The paragraph ends with the arrival of the final version of the drone, which the narrator finds aesthetically pleasing, and a mention of the final assembly part, indicating a near completion of the project.

10:08

🚀 Attending CES 2024 and Future Plans

The final paragraph details the narrator's experience at CES 2024, where they and their team learn about the latest in flying technology and industry trends. They also share a memorable dinner with two VPs from a prominent EV firm in Asia. However, the narrator acknowledges that their EVITO has structural integrity issues that require redesign. They outline a plan to make modifications over the next two months, with the aim of reassembling the drone by spring break and, hopefully, taking it to the air during the summer. The paragraph concludes with an invitation to stay tuned for the next part of the project and a hopeful target of launching the drone by early June.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Engineering

Engineering is a professional discipline that involves the application of scientific principles to design, build, and maintain structures, machines, devices, systems, and processes. In the context of the video, the speaker is an engineering enthusiast who is passionate about creating and constructing projects, such as building an 'evito' which is likely a custom electric vehicle or a drone.

💡Evito

The term 'evito' is a neologism likely derived from 'electric vehicle' and 'to build'. It refers to the project the speaker is undertaking, which is to construct a flying electric vehicle from scratch. The script mentions the process beginning in October 2023, indicating a personal and innovative engineering endeavor.

💡Manufacturing Process

The manufacturing process refers to the sequence of steps involved in creating a product, from the initial design to the finished item. In the video, the speaker describes the beginning of this process, which includes designing, prototyping, and assembling components for the 'evito'. The script mentions 'manufactur[ing] pin shorts', which suggests the creation of electrical connections for the vehicle.

💡3D Printing

3D printing is a process of making three-dimensional solid objects from a digital file. The script mentions 'finally got this print off the bed', which implies the use of 3D printing technology to create parts for the 'evito'. This technology is integral to modern engineering and prototyping.

💡Structural Integrity

Structural integrity is the ability of an object to maintain its shape and withstand forces without breaking or deforming. The video script mentions issues with the 'structural integrity' of the 'evito', indicating that the design needs to be strong enough to support the vehicle's intended use, including the stresses of flight.

💡Redesign

Redesign is the process of modifying or improving a design to address issues or to incorporate new requirements. The speaker in the video plans to 'spend on next two 2, month bring modification to the design', which shows the iterative nature of engineering projects and the need to refine and improve upon initial designs.

💡Flight Controller

A flight controller is an electronic device used in aircraft and drones to control and stabilize the flight. The script mentions purchasing 'the most expensive fly controller', which is a critical component for the 'evito' if it is intended to fly autonomously or be remotely piloted.

💡Machining

Machining is a process of cutting, shaping, or forming metal or other materials using specialized machinery. The video script refers to 'machine shops nearby', which are facilities that offer machining services, likely used for creating metal components for the 'evito' project.

💡Student Organizations

Student organizations are groups formed by students around a common interest or goal. In the script, the speaker mentions a business that connects 'student organization[s] and companies with machine shops nearby', indicating a collaborative effort between educational and industrial entities.

💡CES 2024

CES, or the Consumer Electronics Show, is a major trade show for consumer technology. The script mentions attending 'CES 2024', where the speaker and team likely explored new technologies and trends in the industry, which could influence the design and features of their 'evito' project.

💡Prototyping

Prototyping is the creation of a sample or model of a product before it is manufactured. The video script describes the process of building the 'evito', which involves prototyping to test and refine the design. The speaker's excitement about the progress, such as 'it's getting together', reflects the iterative prototyping process.

Highlights

Engineering challenges in building a flying EVITO (Electric Vehicle for International Tournament of Originality).

Winter project to build a new EVITO with the aim of making it fly.

Project initiation in October 2023 and ongoing progress.

Significant progress shown with the EVITO's construction.

Introduction to Cameron and Chandler, key figures in the project.

Mait's student organization and company connections with machine shops.

Description of the manufacturing process and its scale.

The moment of truth for the EVITO's structural integrity.

Living at the workspace due to the intensity of the project.

Jacob's involvement and the manufacturing of crucial parts.

Challenges faced with the 3D print and the extruder cover.

Success in completing a fully functional part of the EVITO.

High-tech aspects with the most expensive flight controller.

Mystery colors revealed in the EVITO's design.

The final assembly of the EVITO and the anticipation of the result.

Importance of the support from the father in transporting packages.

Attendance at CES 2024 for industry insights and networking.

Dinner with VPs from Xang, a significant EV firm in Asia.

Structural integrity issues leading to redesign and manufacturing plans.

Aim to reassemble the EVITO by spring break and test flight by summer.

Call to action for viewers to stay tuned for part two and future updates.