Amjad Yaghi

Logbook

Aerodesign Payload

Robotics Systems on the SAE Aerodesign Advanced Payload subteam. Avionics decisions and firmware research.

9 entries

  1. July 2026

  2. Mastering IR detection (part 3)

    Completing my deep dive on phototransistors.

    • experiment

  3. Mastering IR detection (part 2)

    I forgot things aren't ideal in the world of ICs... digging deeper!

    • experiment
  4. June 2026

  5. Mastering IR detection (part 1)

    Studying opamps, documenting phase-reversal, and setting up for the best IR detection this world has ever seen.

    • experiment
  6. May 2026

  7. Building out the morphological chart

    General team status check, then a payload session building out the morphological chart. Last log's sensing table is now condensed into annotated cells with images. Next step is picking a complete stack.

    • meeting

  8. Payload concept analysis

    Built a document of payload options for the team, then sat down as a subteam and analysed concept fragments across motion, interaction, and detection plus localisation. Morphological chart and concept summaries are up next.

    • meeting
    • research

  9. Avionics subteam onboarding

    Second onboarding, this time with the full subteam. Delivery is locked in over release, and the payload direction is leaning towards being omnidirectional and self-centring.

    • meeting

  10. Reading the payload history

    Read through the team's internal payload history. Need to find what the broader community has done for short-distance localisation and docking.

    • research

  11. Subteam alignment & concept gen kickoff

    First proper subteam meeting. Confirmed avionics owns detection and localisation. Last year's approach failed by putting all locating on the plane. Timeline is more aggressive: 6 weeks to a solid design, then prototype.

    • meeting

  12. First general meeting!

    First SAE Aerodesign general meeting. Got oriented on team structure and the payload subteam mission: capture and release on the DLZ. Summer focus is research and derisking.

    • meeting