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Luc Desautels
// LUC DESAUTELS · IMPACTFUL ROBOTICS

Project
Sailfish.

Building drones for marine search and rescue.

Proof of Technology High school project

A proof of technology for a low-cost, autonomous marine search and rescue drone to reduce the time and cost for Coast Guard and volunteer rescue to make first visual contact at an emergency site.

Sailfish drone in flight
§ 01 — The Project

Autonomous drones for search and rescue

Marine search and rescue is currently performed by specialized boats and planes. We set out to develop a proof of technology for a long range, low cost, autonomous drone to reduce the time and cost for Coast Guard and volunteer rescue to make first visual contact at an emergency site.

Is the tech there to do this?

With input and a set of requirements from Canadian Coast Guard personnel, we quickly figured out why this project was novel. Compared to drones used for land rescue, an MSAR drone faces three core challenges that no existing product addresses.

  • Extended Range

    Search areas at sea are vastly larger than on land. The drone must achieve 160 km endurance to cover meaningful search zones.

  • Waterproofing

    Saltwater exposure, rain, and emergency water landings demand a fully waterproof fuselage and electronics enclosure.

  • Harsh Conditions

    Maritime weather is unforgiving. Wind, waves, and low visibility are the norm during rescue operations.

§ 02 — The Story

Over the past eighteen months, I founded and led a small team of students to develop the most ambitious and technically advanced project I've worked on to date.

In May 2024, I assembled a team of 6 high school students experienced in competitive robotics, software and business to create a proof of technology for a low-cost marine search and rescue drone.

With input from Coast Guard and other experts to create a set of requirements, we figured out why our project is first of its kind: compared to drones used for land rescue, an MSAR drone requires longer range, waterproofing and reliability in harsh conditions.

The team with an early Sailfish prototype

As a busy IBDP student, I significantly improved my studying and time management skills to balance academics with project time. I also centered my IB Extended Essay around video transmission over water; my Physics Internal Assessment research on motor efficiency testing; and my Math IA on optimizing a parametric spiral for drone search pattern considering wind and current.

In the unforgiving field of aerospace engineering even small failures can be catastrophic. Our testing often involved crashes that erased dozens of hours of work. I learned to stay motivated and lead the team through setbacks which is an important mindset that I'll continue to benefit from in the future.

I've found immense fulfillment in applying my passion and experience in competitive robotics to a real-world application.

This project is ongoing. Through the project, I've significantly developed my experience in mechanical design and simulation, electrical engineering, and software for autonomous systems.

§ 03 — My Involvement

A closer look at the specific engineering challenges I worked on.

  • Motor test rig
    Testing & Validation

    Motor-Battery Thrust Testing

    I ran extensive motor-battery thrust tests to characterize the power system performance. These tests informed the selection of motor and propeller combinations that maximize endurance while meeting the thrust requirements for hover and forward flight. This work fed directly into my Physics IA research on motor efficiency.

  • Hover flight
    Flight Testing

    Hover Tuning Flights

    Successfully performed short hover tuning flights to calibrate the flight controller and validate the VTOL system before attempting full transition to forward flight.

  • Search pattern diagram
    Math IA

    Search Pattern Optimization

    My Math IA focused on optimizing a parametric spiral for drone search pattern considering wind and current - a mathematical model tailored to real maritime search conditions.

  • Video transmission diagram
    Extended Essay

    Video Transmission Over Water

    My IB Extended Essay explored the challenges and solutions for real-time video transmission from the drone to a ground station over open water, where range and signal reliability are critical.

  • Fuselage CAD render
    Mechanical Design

    Waterproof Fuselage Design

    Designed and built the waterproof fuselage from robotic submarine parts, housing the camera, battery, and autonomous flight controller in a sealed, saltwater-resistant enclosure.

  • Wing manufacturing
    Manufacturing

    3D-Printed Composite Wings

    Agile manufacturing of 3D-printed wings from specialized lightweight polymers supported with carbon fiber, achieving the structural integrity and low weight needed for long-range flight.

§ 04 — Generation 3 Proof of Technology

Our third-generation drone proves the technology for a waterproof 5 kg, 2-metre wingspan plane that can achieve 160 km endurance and hovers for takeoff and landing.

The third-generation Sailfish aircraft
2 m
Wingspan
5 kg
Weight
160 km
Endurance
VTOL
Takeoff & Landing
  • 01

    Waterproof Fuselage

    Built from robotic submarine parts, housing the camera, battery, and autonomous flight controller.

  • 02

    Lightweight Composite Wings

    3D-printed from specialized lightweight polymers supported with carbon fiber.

  • 03

    Autonomous Flight and Search Patterns

    Optimized mathematical model for MSAR drone search patterns considering wind and current.

  • 04

    VTOL Hover Capability

    Hovers for takeoff and landing - no runway required. Deployable from boats, docks, or any small surface.