Our Crowdfunding Groups
Website: https://dreams.mii.vt.edu/rav-fab
Help us invent the future of extraterrestrial manufacturing!
Our Mission:
Our goal is to design and implement a robotic workcell (RAV-FAB) that can autonomously 3D print and assemble fully-functional drones. At the end of the project, we want to be able to print a fully functional drone that can lift off completely autonomously. The RAV-FAB concept is one of only 12 projects selected by NASA for the University Students Research Challenge (USRC; https://nari.arc.nasa.gov/usrc).
Why RAV-FAB:
With an autonomous robotic workcell that can manufacture drones from stock components and printing feedstock, drone designs can be quickly reconfigured and mission-tailored. Fabrication with basic components and materials also allows RAV-FAB to decrease its reliance on the supply chain, making it ideal for expeditionary manufacturing. We dream of a future where we can deploy RAV-FAB workcells anywhere in the world or beyond: for human exploration, search and rescue, or delivery. Our long-term vision is for RAV-FAB to be sent to Mars to begin building reconnaissance and supporting vehicles before astronauts arrive.
Who We Are:
We are a team of undergraduate engineering and business students that have big dreams to utilize our expertise in business, robotics, drones, and manufacturing to affect the fourth industrial revolution. Our team has been selected by NASA's USRC, which was created to solve big technical challenges in aerospace, stimulate entrepreneurship, and motivate student critical thinking.
How You Can Help:
We need your help: join our story and be part of the next industrial revolution. Your gift is crucial to fast track prototyping time and maximize impact. You will ensure we can iterate through designs faster, it's $8 for a wiring harness, $22 for a spool of filament, or $53 for a drone motor. Your support will directly fund materials for our test drones, additions to our robotic equipment, and more. This additional funding will help make our project be the best it can be, so please help us invent the future of extraterrestrial manufacturing!
A gift of $8 could fund the purchase of a critical component, such as a wiring harness!
Your gift will help us get the equipment and materials we need to change the world!
Your support will help our team buy the materials and equipment we need to build our system!
Your gift will help us spend more time in the lab, get materials to build the drones, and overall have a more successful impact!
You are a huge contributor to our project! Your gift will enable us to reach more goals and milestones, spend more time in the lab, buy more materials, and get more recognition across the country!
Your gift will help us make our project bigger and better, buy advanced equipment, and spend more time changing the world!
Your contribution will help us obtain the materials and equipment we need, and it will help our engineers spend more time in the lab developing solutions to one of the most challenging issues in unmanned aerial flight,