AI modular UAV prototyping platform
BW-C45 Blackwidow
Modular VTOL Carrier Platform
- Digital Twin Validated
- Deploy-Only V1 Prototype
- Future Recovery Architecture Under Development
- Physical Manufacturing In Progress
A simulation-first R&D platform for building and validating a modular VTOL carrier prototype — for grant partners, technical collaborators and early supporters.
€53,000 — first financing stage (overview):
- 3D printing & materials (PETG / PETG-CF)
- avionics, components & prototype assembly
- tools, fixtures & workshop equipment
- ground tests, hover validation & engineering reporting
Responsible R&D
BW-C45 is an aerospace prototyping and simulation research platform — not a weapon system and not an autonomous combat product.
- no autonomous weapon control
- no live payload release at the current stage
- subdrone deployment validated in simulation only (AI Drone Brain)
- AI Drone Brain does not act as a production autopilot for real flights
Problem
Slow, fragmented UAV prototyping
Aerospace R&D is often expensive and split across disconnected tools — CAD, printing, testing and autonomy research rarely move together.
Solution
One integrated prototyping platform
BW-C45 combines hardware, simulation and validation in a single workflow:
- 3D-printed VTOL carrier architecture
- manufacturing-ready documentation
- mission simulation (AI Drone Brain)
- GPS-denied navigation research sandbox
Validation path: design → print → assemble → ground test → hover test → navigation research → scalable prototype.
Core innovation
Subdrone Carrier & Deployment Mission
BW-C45 is not only a VTOL airframe — it is a carrier platform (MALE-class scale) designed to transport and release FPV-class sub-drones (~0.85 kg each) at a deployment zone under GPS-denied conditions, then return to base.
Civil research context: search & rescue support, critical infrastructure inspection and logistics R&D — explored in simulation first, with no operational payload release at this stage.
Mission profile (simulation-validated)
Full scenario MISSION_GPS_DENIED_SUBDRONE_DEPLOYMENT_SIM — validated in AI Drone Brain
Simulation Agent before any real flight:
- VTOL takeoffaltitude & stability check
- Transition to cruiseforward flight envelope
- GPS-denied navigationterrain-scan / VO simulation
- Radio-silence modeexternal comms off (simulated)
- Arrival at deployment zoneconfidence, energy, stability
- Subdrone undockleft + right release, mass/CG shift
- Return to baseRTB under drift & battery constraints
- VTOL landingtouchdown & full mission report
Carrier hardware (manufacturing-ready)
- left / right carrier mounts
- payload rail system
- servo release latch mechanism
- payload module interface (FPV-class)
- canonical STL/CAD carrier package
Simulation objectives
- GPS-denied nav logic & terrain confidence
- deployment zone arrival under uncertainty
- subdrone undock stability (mass/CG model)
- post-release carrier stability
- GO/NO-GO per phase + anomaly detection
V1 prototype scope: the first flight aircraft integrates the Deployment System only (carrier rail + servo release). Subdrone recovery is a separate Recovery Research Program — validated in simulation, not on V1 airframe.
Research stage: subdrone release is simulated only in AI Drone Brain
(SubdroneEventSimulator). No real payload release or MAVLink control — simulation-first validation
before ground and flight tests.
Why It Matters
Modern UAV development is often slow, expensive and fragmented. BW-C45 solves this by creating a rapid prototyping ecosystem where hardware, simulation, testing and AI-assisted engineering evolve together.
Impact: the project strengthens Ukraine-linked aerospace R&D resilience and contributes an open, simulation-first methodology for modular UAV development — so teams can validate complex missions with lower risk and cost before committing to flight hardware.
- faster prototype iteration
- lower development cost
- local manufacturing capability
- structured test workflow
- simulation-first autonomy research
- scalable aerospace R&D architecture
Why Ukraine · Why now
- local additive manufacturing under real operational constraints
- rapid R&D cycles without dependency on fragmented supply chains
- engineering talent and simulation-first workflow already in place
- grant-ready validation milestone — prototype manufacturing & ground testing
A simulation layer linking CFD, structural models and flight dynamics — so design decisions are validated before physical parts are printed.
Project Progress
Architecture status: FROZEN UNTIL FIRST FLIGHT TEST CAMPAIGN COMPLETION
BW-C45 Architecture Freeze Notice
The current BW-C45 program architecture is frozen until completion of the first flight-testing campaign of the V1 prototype. Primary focus: print → assemble → test → fly.
Program baseline
- V1 Aircraft = Deploy-Only Prototype
- Deployment System = Payload Rail + Servo Release (GO)
- Recovery System = separate research program (not on V1 airframe)
- Combined deploy + recovery architecture = Research More
Stage 8 (complete · simulation)
- Digital Twin Validation Completed
- Monte Carlo Validation Completed
- Swarm Integration Completed
- Human Review Gate Passed
Current development focus
- Physical manufacturing & assembly
- Ground testing & hover validation
- Initial flight testing
- Stage 8E — bench validation (off-airframe, parallel track)
No major architectural changes to deployment or recovery subsystems before the first flight-test campaign, unless a critical engineering issue is discovered. Recovery Research Program continues independently and does not affect V1 airframe architecture.
After completing Digital Twin and manufacturing freeze, the project moved into physical production. A Creality K1 Max has been procured; the STL package and print workflow are ready. On 5 June 2026 the first virtual swarm desant test completed successfully in simulation (5 UAVs, Kyiv urban scenario — 48/48 photo waypoints). On 7 June 2026, Stage 8 — Recovery Research Program completed validation in Digital Twin and AI Drone Brain (4/4 recovery in simulation, Monte Carlo 100/100 — research program only; not part of V1 airframe). Architecture is frozen until the first V1 flight-test campaign. The current goal is to manufacture the first deploy-only flight prototype and run ground validation.
Completed
-
Stage 8 — Recovery Research Program
(simulation / research track — not a V1 aircraft capability)
- Digital Twin Validation Completed
- Monte Carlo Completed
- Swarm Integration Completed
- Human Review Gate Passed
- Future Recovery Architecture selected — Hybrid Funnel + Magnetic Capture (simulation concept)
- ContactModel + Docking FSM completed (simulation only)
- 4/4 subdrone recovery demonstrated in full mission simulation (research track)
- V1 architecture alignment — deploy-only flight prototype; recovery remains separate R&D program
- Engineering documentation package
- Manufacturing freeze
- 3D printer procurement
- GPS-denied mission simulation
- AI Drone Brain architecture
- Canonical STL/CAD structure
- Procurement BOM
- Print queue and QC workflow
- Operator-ready print package
- Agent-Lite test artifact collector
- Simulation Agent V1.1 with GO/NO-GO reporting
- Navigation Research Stack V1
- VIO/SLAM sandbox
In Progress
- First physical prototype printing
- Stage 8E bench mockup preparation (PETG-CF geometry validation — hand-supervised, no flight)
- Remote 3D print workflow
- Assembly preparation
- Ground test preparation
- Repository consolidation
Next Milestones
- Print first prototype parts
- Complete carrier hardware assembly
- Perform ground tests
- Execute first hover test
- Collect telemetry and logs
- Feed real data into Agent-Lite and AI Drone Brain
- Expand VIO/SLAM research using real test data
Digital Twin Validated
AI Drone Brain
BW-C45 V1 is a deploy-only aircraft. A future subdrone recovery concept was validated in Digital Twin simulation, Monte Carlo campaigns and full mission integration — as a separate Recovery Research Program, not part of the first flight prototype.
The AI Drone Brain is a separate software subsystem for mission simulation, multi-agent swarm coordination, telemetry analysis, anomaly detection, and GO/NO-GO decision support — simulation-first, not a production autopilot.
Core capabilities
- mission simulation & supervision
- multi-agent swarm simulation
- telemetry analysis
- anomaly detection
- GO/NO-GO recommendations
- GPS-denied navigation research
- VIO/SLAM experimentation
- SITL replay
- test reporting
SWARM AI Simulator Pro
Multi-agent layer for collective UAV missions: one coordinator plus worker drones, web dashboard,
live telemetry and 3D map (OSM-anchored). Scenario kyiv_dual_survey — orbit and photo survey
of two Kyiv high-rises (Gulliver & Parus). Research simulation chain (not V1 airframe):
dergachi_kyiv_desant_and_recovery.
Milestone (5 Jun 2026): First virtual swarm desant test completed — 48/48 photo waypoints, 100% mission success. Simulation only; no real aircraft involved.
Stage 8 · June 2026 · Recovery Research Program
Future Subdrone Recovery Architecture
In June 2026 the BW-C45 team completed validation of a future autonomous subdrone recovery concept within the Digital Twin environment.
This capability is not part of the first BW-C45 flight prototype. The technology is currently progressing through simulation, validation and bench-scale testing stages.
- MissionThe subdrone completes its mission
- Locate CarrierSubdrone navigates to the carrier platform
- Recovery ApproachExecutes recovery approach procedure to the recovery module
- Recovery ValidationConfirms successful recovery in the recovery system
Geometry note: deployment bay (rail + release) and recovery module use separate geometries. Steps above describe validated logic in Digital Twin — not frozen V2 physical bay design.
Results
- ✓ Digital Twin Validation
- ✓ AI Drone Brain Integration
- ✓ Monte Carlo Validation
- ✓ Full Mission Simulation
- ✓ Human Review Approval
Current status: Recovery Research Program
Next step: Bench Mockup Validation (Stage 8E — off-airframe, hand-supervised)
Important: All validation was performed in simulation only. Recovery is not integrated into the V1 deploy-only prototype. No real autonomous recovery flights have been conducted.
Deployment vs Recovery
Two independent subsystems. V1 flight prototype integrates deployment only. Recovery remains a separate research program with its own geometry.
| Subsystem | Status |
|---|---|
| Deployment System | GO · V1 Prototype |
| Recovery System | Research Program |
| Combined Architecture | Research More |
Important: The AI Drone Brain is not a production autopilot and does not control a real UAV at this stage. It is a simulation-first research and decision-support layer.
Navigation Research
Dedicated perception stack for GPS-denied mission simulation (VIO / SLAM sandbox).
Current status
- VIO sandbox created
- SLAM mock created
- GPS-denied replay working
- terrain model working
- safety guard implemented
- real vehicle control blocked
Manufacturing Readiness
The project has moved from concept to manufacturing preparation.
Current manufacturing assets:
- canonical STL package
- print part registry
- K1 Max print strategy
- material list
- QC checklist
- manufacturing map
- operator workflow
- remote print control workflow
The first prototype is being prepared for physical printing and assembly.
Funding Need
First financing stage: €53,000
Contributions from this fundraising round support prototype manufacturing, validation and engineering work for the BW-C45 Blackwidow platform — including:
- 3D printing and materials (PETG / PETG-CF)
- avionics, electronics, components and prototype assembly
- tools, fixtures and workshop / lab equipment
- ground tests and hover validation
- engineering, simulation and project reporting
Grant and partner focus: testing, research and validation of a modular additive-manufactured aerospace prototype platform.
Project documents
One-page PDFs for grant partners and supporters — funding breakdown (EN+UA on one sheet) and compact project overviews. Prices may shift by supplier and lead time; supporters still receive itemized invoices for actual purchases.
Roadmap
Target dates from physical prototype build onward (post manufacturing freeze). Earlier phases completed in 2025–early 2026.
- Phase 1 — Engineering Foundation2025Completed
- Phase 2 — Manufacturing FreezeJan 2026Completed
- Phase 3 — Physical PrototypeJun 2026Active — 3D print & assembly
- Deployment System — V1 PrototypeJun 2026GO — carrier rail + servo release on first deploy-only flight prototype (after ground test)
- Stage 8 — Recovery Research ProgramJun 2026Digital Twin · Monte Carlo · Swarm integration · Human Review Gate — simulation complete (not V1 airframe)
- Phase 4 — Ground TestingJul 2026Planned — bench & pre-flight checks (deployment hardware)
- Phase 5 — Hover ValidationAug 2026Planned — first hover flights (deploy-only V1)
- Phase 6 — AI Drone Brain EvolutionJun–Sep 2026Recovery Research Program active · first virtual swarm desant test ✅ · Stage 8E bench mockup next
- Phase 7 — Navigation ResearchJul–Oct 2026In progress — VIO / SLAM sandbox
- Recovery System — Future CapabilityJun–Jul 2026Stage 8E bench mockup — funnel geometry, off-airframe, no flight
- Phase 8 — Advanced Prototype EvolutionNov 2026Planned — next hardware prototype iteration
Project Organization
BW-C45 Blackwidow
BW-C45 Blackwidow is an independent aerospace R&D initiative developing a simulation-first platform for modular UAV prototyping, additive manufacturing and navigation research.
The project is operated through BIG TRADE (Ontario corporation, Canada) and is open to international grant programs, research collaborations, technical partnerships and prototype development initiatives.
Partnership Areas
- Grant Partnerships — co-designed validation milestones and reporting aligned with institutional due diligence (NRC IRAP, Horizon Europe–style programs).
- Technical Collaboration — joint work on carrier architecture, additive manufacturing workflows and simulation stack integration.
- Research Cooperation — co-authorship on simulation-first UAV methodology; partner institutions receive early access to VIO/SLAM sandbox datasets.
- Prototype Development Support — transparent, invoice-linked procurement for physical prototype builds and ground-test campaigns.
Contact
Official email: info@blackwidow.space
Facebook: BW-C45 Blackwidow
Ontario business registration (active) · BIN 1001118389 · Primary activity NAICS 541710 — research and development in the physical, engineering and life sciences
Intellectual Property Notice
BW-C45 Blackwidow, AI Drone Brain, associated engineering documentation, CAD concepts, simulation workflows, software architecture, visual materials and project documentation are proprietary intellectual property of BIG TRADE Inc. (Ontario, Canada), legal operator of the BW-C45 Blackwidow Project, and the project author.
Information presented on this website is provided for demonstration, research, partnership and grant evaluation purposes only and does not grant any license to reproduce, manufacture, distribute or commercialize the technology without prior written permission from BIG TRADE Inc.
Certain elements of the project may become subject to future patent, utility model, design or copyright protection as the platform evolves.
© 2026 BIG TRADE Inc. · BW-C45 Blackwidow Project. All rights reserved.