Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
3İHA 237Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Design3+1+04627.10.2026
Course Details
Language of Instruction Turkish
Level of Course Unit Associate Degree
Department / Program Drone Technology and Operations
Type of Program Formal Education
Type of Course Unit Compulsory
Course Delivery Method Face To Face
Objectives of the Course This course aims to provide students with an understanding of the main design characteristics and subsystems of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems, covering topics from different engineering disciplines such as aerodynamics, electronics, economics, materials, thermodynamics, and structural analysis.
Course Content The Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) course covers the fundamental aspects necessary for understanding UAVs, including UAV categories, preliminary UAV sizing, UAV geometry and configurations, characteristic features of different UAV types, structures, payloads, communication systems, launch and recovery systems, and propulsion systems.
Course Methods and Techniques Lecture, question-and-answer, discussion, practice, and design techniques.
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator Instructor Abdulhaluk Kuloğlu abdulhaluk.kuloglu@hku.edu.tr
Name of Lecturers Instructor ABDULHALUK KULOĞLU
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources Unmanned Aircraft Systems: UAVS Design, Development, and Deployment, Reg Austin, A John Wiley and Sons, Inc., ISBN 978-0-470-05819-0.
SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT, Randal W. Beard and Timothy W. Mclain, ISBN 978-0-691-14921-9
Designing Unmanned Aircraft Systems: A Comprehensive Approach, Jay Gundlach, ISBN10: 1624102611
Course Notes ArduPilot. ArduPilot Documentation: Copter, Plane and QuadPlane.
Gundlach, J. – Designing Unmanned Aircraft Systems: A Comprehensive Approach
Austin, R. – Unmanned Aircraft Systems: UAVS Design, Development, and Deployment
Beard, R. W. & McLain, T. W. – Small Unmanned Aircraft
Documents Design of Unmanned Aerial Systems - Mohammad H. Sadraey (2020)

Course Category
Mathematics and Basic Sciences %20
Engineering %20
Engineering Design %20
Social Sciences %0
Education %0
Science %20
Health %0
Field %20

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria
In-Term Studies Quantity Percentage
Mid-terms 1 % 40
Practice 1 % 10
Final examination 1 % 50
Total
3
% 100

 
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration Total Work Load
Course Duration 16 4 64
Hours for off-the-c.r.stud 16 4 64
Mid-terms 1 5 5
Project 16 3 48
Final examination 1 5 5
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 6 186

 
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
NoLearning Outcomes
1 Students will be able to explain the subsystems of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
2 Students will be able to identify the design characteristics of UAV systems.
3 Students will be able to calculate the basic requirements of UAVs.
4 Students will be able to explain the characteristic features of different types of UAVs.
5 Students will be able to compare the application areas of UAVs.

 
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 Aircraft Design Methodology; Mission Profiles, Workshop Students should read the relevant section of the textbook and research the related topic on the internet. ArduPilot. ArduPilot Documentation: Copter, Plane and QuadPlane. Gundlach, J. – Designing Unmanned Aircraft Systems: A Comprehensive Approach Austin, R. – Unmanned Aircraft Systems: UAVS Design, Development, and Deployment Beard, R. W. & McLain, T. W. – Small Unmanned Aircraft
2 UAV Regulations, Material Selection, Workshop Students should read the relevant section of the textbook and research the related topic on the internet. ArduPilot. ArduPilot Documentation: Copter, Plane and QuadPlane. Gundlach, J. – Designing Unmanned Aircraft Systems: A Comprehensive Approach Austin, R. – Unmanned Aircraft Systems: UAVS Design, Development, and Deployment Beard, R. W. & McLain, T. W. – Small Unmanned Aircraft
3 Preliminary Aircraft Weight Estimates and Initial Sizing, Workshop Students should read the relevant section of the textbook and research the related topic on the internet. ArduPilot. ArduPilot Documentation: Copter, Plane and QuadPlane. Gundlach, J. – Designing Unmanned Aircraft Systems: A Comprehensive Approach Austin, R. – Unmanned Aircraft Systems: UAVS Design, Development, and Deployment Beard, R. W. & McLain, T. W. – Small Unmanned Aircraft
4 Estimation of Critical Performance Parameters, Workshop Students should read the relevant section of the textbook and research the related topic on the internet. ArduPilot. ArduPilot Documentation: Copter, Plane and QuadPlane. Gundlach, J. – Designing Unmanned Aircraft Systems: A Comprehensive Approach Austin, R. – Unmanned Aircraft Systems: UAVS Design, Development, and Deployment Beard, R. W. & McLain, T. W. – Small Unmanned Aircraft
5 Wing Loading, Weight-to-Thrust Ratio, Workshop Students should read the relevant section of the textbook and research the related topic on the internet. ArduPilot. ArduPilot Documentation: Copter, Plane and QuadPlane. Gundlach, J. – Designing Unmanned Aircraft Systems: A Comprehensive Approach Austin, R. – Unmanned Aircraft Systems: UAVS Design, Development, and Deployment Beard, R. W. & McLain, T. W. – Small Unmanned Aircraft
6 Configuration Planning; Fuselage Configuration Selection, Workshop Students should read the relevant section of the textbook and research the related topic on the internet. ArduPilot. ArduPilot Documentation: Copter, Plane and QuadPlane. Gundlach, J. – Designing Unmanned Aircraft Systems: A Comprehensive Approach Austin, R. – Unmanned Aircraft Systems: UAVS Design, Development, and Deployment Beard, R. W. & McLain, T. W. – Small Unmanned Aircraft
7 Tail Configuration Selection, Workshop Students should read the relevant section of the textbook and research the related topic on the internet. ArduPilot. ArduPilot Documentation: Copter, Plane and QuadPlane. Gundlach, J. – Designing Unmanned Aircraft Systems: A Comprehensive Approach Austin, R. – Unmanned Aircraft Systems: UAVS Design, Development, and Deployment Beard, R. W. & McLain, T. W. – Small Unmanned Aircraft
8 Ara Sınav
9 Landing Gear Configuration Selection, Workshop Students should read the relevant section of the textbook and research the related topic on the internet. ArduPilot. ArduPilot Documentation: Copter, Plane and QuadPlane. Gundlach, J. – Designing Unmanned Aircraft Systems: A Comprehensive Approach Austin, R. – Unmanned Aircraft Systems: UAVS Design, Development, and Deployment Beard, R. W. & McLain, T. W. – Small Unmanned Aircraft
10 Propeller Configuration Selection, Propulsion Systems, Workshop Students should read the relevant section of the textbook and research the related topic on the internet. ArduPilot. ArduPilot Documentation: Copter, Plane and QuadPlane. Gundlach, J. – Designing Unmanned Aircraft Systems: A Comprehensive Approach Austin, R. – Unmanned Aircraft Systems: UAVS Design, Development, and Deployment Beard, R. W. & McLain, T. W. – Small Unmanned Aircraft
11 Performance Analysis; Range and Endurance, Takeoff and Landing Distances, Maneuverability, Workshop Students should read the relevant section of the textbook and research the related topic on the internet. ArduPilot. ArduPilot Documentation: Copter, Plane and QuadPlane. Gundlach, J. – Designing Unmanned Aircraft Systems: A Comprehensive Approach Austin, R. – Unmanned Aircraft Systems: UAVS Design, Development, and Deployment Beard, R. W. & McLain, T. W. – Small Unmanned Aircraft
12 Flight Stability and Control; Longitudinal Stability, Workshop Students should read the relevant section of the textbook and research the related topic on the internet. ArduPilot. ArduPilot Documentation: Copter, Plane and QuadPlane. Gundlach, J. – Designing Unmanned Aircraft Systems: A Comprehensive Approach Austin, R. – Unmanned Aircraft Systems: UAVS Design, Development, and Deployment Beard, R. W. & McLain, T. W. – Small Unmanned Aircraft
13 Lateral Stability, Control Surfaces, Workshop Students should read the relevant section of the textbook and research the related topic on the internet. ArduPilot. ArduPilot Documentation: Copter, Plane and QuadPlane. Gundlach, J. – Designing Unmanned Aircraft Systems: A Comprehensive Approach Austin, R. – Unmanned Aircraft Systems: UAVS Design, Development, and Deployment Beard, R. W. & McLain, T. W. – Small Unmanned Aircraft
14 Lateral Stability, Control Surfaces, Workshop Students should read the relevant section of the textbook and research the related topic on the internet. ArduPilot. ArduPilot Documentation: Copter, Plane and QuadPlane. Gundlach, J. – Designing Unmanned Aircraft Systems: A Comprehensive Approach Austin, R. – Unmanned Aircraft Systems: UAVS Design, Development, and Deployment Beard, R. W. & McLain, T. W. – Small Unmanned Aircraft
15 Cost Analysis, Workshop Students should read the relevant section of the textbook and research the related topic on the internet. ArduPilot. ArduPilot Documentation: Copter, Plane and QuadPlane. Gundlach, J. – Designing Unmanned Aircraft Systems: A Comprehensive Approach Austin, R. – Unmanned Aircraft Systems: UAVS Design, Development, and Deployment Beard, R. W. & McLain, T. W. – Small Unmanned Aircraft

 
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12 P13 P14 P15
C1 5
C2 3 3 3
C3 4
C4 5
C5 5

  Contribution: 1: Very Slight 2:Slight 3:Moderate 4:Significant 5:Very Significant