For my capstone project, I developed a prototype Lithium-ion battery management system (BMS) for the Northeastern Aero Fixed Wing Drone project.

This project involved significant preliminary research into the fundamentals of Li-ion battery management systems and the implementation of a passive battery management system monitoring temperature, current draw, and estimating state of charge. Each of these features was included on a single PCB fitting on the side of a battery pack. All of the data collected in the battery pack would be relayed through a Pixhawk flight controller using appropriate MavLink protocols to ground controls. At the center of the controls and networking was a Teensy microcontroller, selected for easy integration with provided libraries for select parts and smaller form factor.

On this project, I carried out the technical development, PCB design, and system integration as well as acted as the liaison to the commissioning club. Working on a team of six engineers, I learned how to lead a technically diverse team working with an extremely limited budget over a short six-month timeline.