A Stratus-1 aircraft flying into a low sun over dark green hills

Stratus

  • Design
  • Print
  • Fly

Stratus Aeronautical

Who we are

We design long-endurance autonomous aircraft that print on a desktop printer and fly on an open autopilot. Hard-edged, honest about the numbers, built in the USA.

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What we build

Two in development

Aircraft

Stratus-1 banking over autumn trees with a lake behind Stratus-1 A two-metre pusher for long survey flights. Launched by bungee, flown by ArduPilot.
Wingspan
2.0 m
Endurance target
≥ 1.25 h
Weight target
≤ 2.0 kg
Layout
Pusher, inverted V tail

Ground station

The Anvil map tracking the aircraft over a lake shore, its data tag beside it Anvil Watch, plan and command the aircraft from one dark screen. Quiet when it's right, loud when it's not.
Runs on
Windows, macOS
Autopilot
ArduPlane
Link
MAVLink 2
Tested
In simulation

Built by hand.
Flown by code.

Approach

How we work

Printed

Every part fits a desktop print bed.

Airframes are lightweight foaming PLA over carbon spars, cut into sections a 256 mm printer can make. A broken part is a print job, not a back order. The print files are part of the design, not an afterthought.

Open

An autopilot anyone can read.

Our aircraft fly ArduPilot, the open-source autopilot. Missions, return to home and failsafes are standard, documented and yours to change. That makes them a real platform for trying new autonomy.

Proven

Numbers we can back up.

Every mass, thrust and strength figure carries its source. Failsafes for radio loss, low battery and the geofence are tested in simulation before anything flies. When a test disagrees with the model, the test wins and we say so.

Made here

Designed, printed and flown in the USA.

From the CAD to the first layer to the first launch off the shore, the work happens in one shop. Small on purpose, so it can move fast.

Journal

Stratus-1 status

The whole airframe is in CAD

Every part of Stratus-1 is drawn, down to the battery tray and the wire routes. Next we print a wing section and weigh it, because measured grams beat estimated ones.

Failsafes pass in simulation

Radio loss, low battery and geofence breach, each run in ArduPilot's simulator against our own parameter file. The aircraft turns for home every time.

Design point chosen

A 2.0 m wing, a 1.20 m chined fuselage, a pusher prop and an inverted V tail. The concept review passed and detailed design began the same day.

Fly your ownPlans · Kit · Built Illustrated poster: Garage Built, an aircraft on a workbench under the flag If Stratus-1 flies well, it will come as plans, a kit or built. Not for sale yet. Print the fleetPosters Illustrated poster: Every Layer Counts, a nozzle printing the aircraft The poster series, from the first layer to first light.