As a design team, we initially started the design process by defining requirements and constraints associated with our project. These included the weight of both the device and the payload that it would carry, the size of the device and possible size of the payload, the types of accelerations and loads that the device would have to endure while securing the payload, and the availability of electricity during different parts of the flight. Based on these constraints and requirements, we began brainstorming designs that could meet each one. We presented multiple designs to our advisors and client, and we made a recommendation for the design that we thought met the requirements best. The chosen design utilized an aluminum frame for weight reduction and elastic bands for securing payloads with a wide range of shapes and sizes.

                Once the design was approved, more concrete plans were created. We purchased materials and fabricated the prototype. We enlisted the help of the South West Applied Technology College (SWATC) for welding the aluminum frame. We then machined the pieces of the frame to connect hardware.

                After the prototype was fabricated, a simple test plan was created. One of the design specifications set by China Lake was that the device must be able to secure a payload while undergoing 20 g’s of acceleration. I programmed an accelerometer to test and log the acceleration that the device experienced. We analyzed this data and determined that the device met specification.