Drone Winch System for Package Delivery and Retrieval

This project involved the mechanical design, development, and prototyping of a compact winch system intended for use on a delivery drone. The winch allows packages to be lowered to the ground and retrieved without requiring the drone to land. This makes it suitable for deliveries in areas with limited landing space, uneven terrain, restricted access, or obstacles. The work included developing the winch mechanism, cable drum, drive system, package attachment interface, structural mounting, and overall component layout. Particular attention was given to low weight, compact dimensions, reliable cable handling, lifting capacity, balance, and ease of installation on the drone. The system was developed using 3D CAD and progressed from initial mechanical concepts to detailed design, manufactured components, assembly, and a functional prototype. Prototype testing was used to evaluate the lifting and lowering operation, cable control, package stability, and overall mechanical reliability.