Cruiz'n For a Bruin (2001-2002)

The Cruis'n for a Bruin was designed for the Cessna and Office of Naval Research's Design Build Fly competition.  The 2001/2002 mission required an unmanned aerial vehicle be developed which is capable of ferrying a rack of softballs.  However, the team's paper was disqualified over a technicality.  Construction of the aircraft was never finished.

It was designed as a canard (the elevator is located forward of the wings) aircraft.  The softballs were to be carried internally in the central wooden fuselage.  Wings structures were carved from spyder foam and reinforced with carbon fiber spars.  Powered by two Astroflight ducted fan motors located on the wings, the Cruis'n preliminary design is depicted below (several changes were made to the prototype).