Cost and Value Analysis

For the purpose of our development cost analysis, we will not be including the price of
the sensors used on the PhenoDrone. These sensors will be the same as those currently used.
An estimated development cost breakdown is given below, including the number of components
necessary and the estimated cost per component. Overall, our estimated development costs
come in under our goal of $1,000.
Component

Quantity

Cost Per Component

Total Cost

Fuselage Materials
(Balsa wood)

12 sq. ft.

$5.63/sq. ft.

$67.56

Fuselage Materials
(plywood)

9 sq. ft.

$0.50/sq. ft.

$4.50

Fuselage machining

$100.00

$100

Battery

$107.99

$107.99

Motor

$68.42

$68.42

Electronic
components (control
servos, wiring, etc.)

$400.00

$400.00

Propellers

$11.00

$33.00

Styrofoam

2 lb.

$0.03/lb.

$0.06

Wing Section
Machining

$100.00

$100.00

Total

$881.53

*For specific component brand and model numbers, see technical analysis documents.
While the phenotyping drones are autonomous, they still must be supervised during
flights by a pilot who will take control in the event of an emergency. The Purdue Agronomy
Department uses students from the college of Aerospace Engineering Technology to serve as
these emergency pilots. Additionally, these students perform maintenance on the drones. These
students are paid by the department for their services, and we do not anticipate their pay rates
changing if our design is implemented. Maintenance costs could include propellor or motor
replacement in the event of a crash or other sustained damage. However, these costs are
minimal when compared to the cost of a new drone or new sensor package.
As the drone developers, the potential value derived from this system comes primarily
from its potential to expand to other universities and to private farmers. Successful

implementation of our design at Purdue University could open the door for further expansion
and sales of our product. Additionally, our drone could be purchased by others for uses beyond
phenotyping analysis in the future.
Our product presents value to our primary client, the Purdue Agronomy Department, as it
allows for improved phenotype analysis capabilities. While our drone will carry the same sensor
packages as the drones currently in use by the Agronomy Department, our plans to implement a
gimbal system will allow these sensors to retrieve more accurate data during drone flights.
Additionally, our drone will serve as a safer platform for these sensors than those currently in
use. Due to the high cost of the sensors, their safety is of extreme importance. Our drone will
make use of a crash protection system that will minimize shock to the sensor packages and
shield them from potentially harmful objects in the event of a crash. Current drones have no
such protection system in place. This drone will aid professors with their research by providing
better field analysis results and reducing the risk of damage to the expensive analysis
equipment.
The PhenoDrone brings value to other stakeholders, as well. For example, students in
Purdues Aerospace Engineering Technology department will still be able to supervise flights of
the drone, per FAA regulations. These students will be able to continue gaining experience with
flying and maintaining the drones, as they do with the existing drones. Furthermore, those who
allocate funds within the Agronomy Department will be able to do so with less fear of losing
expensive sensors to drone crashes. The funds required to purchase our drone are significantly
lower than those required to purchase a new sensor system, and greatly reducing the frequency
with which new sensors need to be purchased will allow for more flexibility within the Agronomy
Departments budget.