drone building & mechanics

racing drones for Team Starling

(A2RL x DCL, Abu Dhabi 2024)

Starling is a student-led FPV drone racing team that qualified independently for A2RL x DCL, an autonomous drone racing league held in Abu Dhabi. I joined as an industrial designer and ended up as the team's builder and mechanic.

My job was to build the drones from scratch: soldering, assembly, configuration, keeping them competition-ready throughout the event. The drones had to meet strict competition standards, so most parts were sourced and commissioned to spec. Where it made sense, I designed and 3D printed temporary components to keep things moving.

Air 75 tinywhoop

The Air 75 is my tinywhoop that taught me everything about drones. I crashed it so much that most of the parts were replaced several times, yet it is still one of my favourite drones.

When I was 15, I made this cardboard replica of a drone frame, because I couldn't afford to build a real drone.

Later I learned it is calledsympathetic magic.

me piloting the drones