Technological aspects unmanned electric vehicle design based on the Bigo.Land set and ArduPilot

Based on the system engineering principles, the technological aspects of designing a prototype electric vehicle with a combined control system are considered, which assumes the possibility of simple and safe switching from manual mode to remote (via radio channel) or software. The design and physical implementation of an object are based on consideration of prototyping, machining process, and programming technologies that are interrelated throughout the entire structure. The project is implemented on the basis of the Bigo.Land set (in its mechanical and mechatronic parts) and based on ArduPilot/Pixhawk (in its software and hardware parts). The basic set of Bigo.Land is complemented by a two-way overrunning clutch, which, along with the software, allows the pilot to take part in the control process if necessary. The result of the work is a fully functional prototype of an electric vehicle with a sensing system and functions of unmanned control and autonomous behavior; as well as its virtual (CAD/CAE) model and software in the form of the Ardupilot/Pixhawk flight controller firmware, which extends and complements the standard functionality of the base Ardupilot software. The project and the results obtained can be useful to specialists developing and operating unmanned mobile vehicles, as well as educational institutions implementing pedagogical technologies based on the project learning method.

1. Chugunov M.V., Polunina I.N., Ovchinnikov A.Y. Prototype of an Electric Vehicle Based on Bigo.Land. Engineering Technologies and Systems. 2025;35(2):186–203. (In Russ.).

2. Chugunov M.V., Polunina I.N., Pjanzin A.M. E-Tricycle Vehicle Design Based on Parametric CAD/CAE Models. Engineering Technologies and Systems. 2020;30(3):464–479. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.15507/2658-4123.030.202003.464-479

3. Sun D., Li P., Xia X., Liu D., Baldi S. MRS ArduPilot: An Adaptive ArduPilot Architecture Based on Model Reference Stabilization. In: 2024 IEEE Intelligent Vehicles Symposium (IV), 02–05 June 2024, Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. IEEE; 2024. P. 2723–2728. https://doi.org/10.1109/IV55156.2024.10588730

4. Baldi S., Sun D., Xia X., Zhou G., Liu D. ArduPilot-Based Adaptive Autopilot: Architecture and Software-in-the-Loop Experiments. IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems. 2022;58(5):4473–4485. https://doi.org/10.1109/TAES.2022.3162179

5. Li P., Liu D., Xia X., Baldi S. Embedding Adaptive Features in the ArduPilot Control Architecture for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. In: 2022 IEEE 61st Conference on Decision and Control (CDC), 06–09 December 2022, Cancun, Mexico. IEEE; 2022. P. 3773–3780. https://doi.org/10.1109/CDC51059.2022.9993292

6. Li P., Liu D., Xia X., Baldi S. ADArduPilot: An ArduPilot Compatible Adaptive Autopilot. IFAC-PapersOnLine. 2023;56(2):8097–8104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2023.10.964

7. Liu T., Wang X., Zhou H., Che X., Liu H., Wang Q. Design and Control of a Two-Wheeled Self-Balancing Robot Made in 3D Printing. In: 2018 Chinese Automation Congress (CAC), 30 November – 02 December 2018, Xi'an, China. IEEE; 2018. P. 1211–1216. https://doi.org/10.1109/CAC.2018.8623557

8. Seregin S.G. Standard Programming Techniques in the Generator System SprutCAM Postprocessors. Alleya nauki. 2017;2(11):497–502. (In Russ.).

9. Lavado-Anguera S., Velasco-Quintana P.-J., Terrón-López M.-J. Project-Based Learning (PBL) as an Experiential Pedagogical Methodology in Engineering Education: A Review of the Literature. Education Sciences. 2024;14(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14060617

10. Hagedorn L., Riedelsheimer Th., Stark R. Project-Based Learning in Engineering Education – Developing Digital Twins in a Case Study. Proceedings of the Design Society. 2023;3:2975–2984. https://doi.org/10.1017/pds.2023.298

11. Chernyakova N.V. Features of the Design and Implementation of Substantive Training in College Based on System Approach. Modeling, Optimization and Information Technology. 2013;1(1). (In Russ.). URL: https://moit.vivt.ru/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/chernyakova_1_13_1.pdf