BURKUT ATA UAV TEAM

Hi, we are Bürküt Ata, a passionate team of 12 dedicated students committed to developing cutting-edge UAV systems. Our mission is to push the boundaries of aerial technology and innovation, and we are currently focused on building a VTOL UAV for Teknofest, one of Turkey’s most prestigious technology competitions.

Our journey began in 2023 with the development of our first VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) UAV. This aircraft features a hybrid configuration with five motors—four vertical lift motors (similar to a drone) and one rear push motor for efficient forward flight. The UAV has a 3-meter wingspan, a full carbon fiber structure, and is designed for fully autonomous operation.

Thanks to its thrust-to-weight ratio of 1.7, the UAV can generate up to 32 kg of thrust, allowing it to transition smoothly between hover and forward flight. At low speeds, it operates like a drone using the four vertical motors, and at higher speeds, it transitions to fixed-wing mode using the push motor for greater efficiency.

Currently, we are actively testing and refining the system. However, due to a battery failure, we’ve only managed a brief 3-meter altitude test. As a result—and because of limited funding—we’ve shifted our focus to simulation-based testing while we work on acquiring a new battery.

Despite the challenges, our team remains driven and optimistic, not only about our VTOL UAV but also about the additional UAV systems we are developing alongside this main project. We believe in our vision, and we are determined to leave a mark on the future of aerospace technology.

One of the key systems we are currently working on is a custom voltage regulator board capable of outputting 5V at 10A and 24V at 0.5A. This board is designed to power critical avionics such as the Pixhawk flight controller and the servos controlling the flight surfaces. It’s a crucial component of our power distribution strategy, ensuring stable and reliable operation of sensitive electronics during flight.

Our team is dedicated to developing UAV's, and avionics is a crucial part of our success. Our avionics subteam works hard to design and build high-quality, reliable, and user-friendly electronics that power our UAV systems. As we continue to grow and take on more ambitious projects, having access to fast, reliable PCB prototyping and manufacturing becomes increasingly important. We believe that PCBWay’s services—especially their rapid prototyping and high-quality manufacturing—would be a tremendous asset to our workflow.

We’re excited about the possibility of working with PCBWay and hope to build a strong partnership that supports innovation and engineering excellence.

Thank you for reading and giving us your time, have a good day!