Jan HusakPortfolio 2026
Project Volans / Ground / #04

Base v0

The landing and charging station. Faust lands on it, gets centred and starts charging without anyone touching it.

Part of
Project Volans
Area
Ground
Status
Design in progress
In the loop
Return and land
01 / What it does

The project

  • A board with four printed cone-shaped cups, one per foot, and an ArUco marker in the middle that Faust's camera aims for.
  • If Faust lands a few centimetres off, the slopes slide each foot to the centre.
  • A spring pin at the bottom of each cup touches the brass foot and charging starts. If Faust lands too far off, it takes off and tries again.
Capture rangeUp to 45 mm off centre (design target)
Cone angleSet from the PETG friction angle, found with a printed ramp test
ContactsSpring pogo pins on brass feet
Charging16.4 V, 1 A, fused
Landing aidArUco marker, ArduPilot precision landing
02 / Why

What it gives Volans

A drone that can't land and recharge by itself always needs a person. The Base removes that person.

03 / Plan

Steps and targets

  1. 01Base design and build guideDone
  2. 02Friction ramp test for the cone angleNext
  3. 03Build and test by hand from different offsetsPlanned
  4. 04Landings with FaustPlanned

Success looks like

  • Centres and starts charging when placed up to 45 mm off
  • Counted success rate over 50 hand placements