What is IRE?
Located on northern Minnesota's Mesabi Iron Range, Iron Range Engineering  (IRE)  is a four year university program that follows a new model for engineering education. Through close ties with various industries, including mining, students who attend IRE participate in a dynamic learning environment where they actively solve real-world problems, provided by industry, to acquire a deeper understanding of not only engineering principles and concepts, but to also improve their project management, critical thinking, and teamwork skills in preparation for a career in engineering.

What is our goal?
The goal of the Tricopter Ultralight IRE Project team is to research, develop, construct, and program an untethered, single-occupant, internal combustion powered ultralight personal rotorcraft at a low price point. We want the plans and software to be free for public use. In other words, we intend to create a flight-ready, cost-effective, 100% opensource hoverbike for the general public. Utilizing three thrusters, this hoverbike will be a bilaterally symmetrical tricopter.

The design of the system will require considerations to be made in regards to the regulations posed by the Federal Aviation Adminsitration (FAA). In order to be classified as an ultralight aircraft (which doesn't require the operator to register the aircraft or hold a pilot's license), this team must meet the applicability requirements set forth in the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations Title 14 Chapter 1 Subchapter F Part 103 . In addition, safety is of paramount importance, so design implementations
 will be made to protect both lives and property.

More information can be found at our current website.

We plan on using any extra money we receive from this campaign to fund a future innovative student-organized project at IRE. Our passion is innovation, and we would like to see future students follow in our footsteps by encouraging them to dream big and think differently. We believe this potential grant would help make that happen.

Why do we need this funding?
IRE relies heavily on the mining industry to fund projects, and our local economy is currently in a slump due to a downturn in the mining industry. Work will begin on the full-scale, flight-ready model starting October 17, 2016, but because this project is being entirely funded by the team internally, we will not be able to afford several vital components. In order to achieve flight-ready status by our hard deadline of November 26, 2016, we are asking you, the community, to aid us in obtaining the necessary parts.

In addition to helping us with our educations, the money you donate to our team will have far reaching implications for the Iron Range region. Our success will garner national attention, showing America that the people of the Iron Range can succeed in making great, innovative ideas reality in the face of adversity.

Who are we?

-Devon Shustarich-

I am from Grand Rapids, MN, and I am expecting to graduate in the fall of 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Degree with an emphasis in software engineering. My academic and work experiences have established numerous opportunities to engage in various industry related engineering projects. These projects have involved the use of 3D modeling, prototype testing, software design and analysis, and implementation of a final prototype.

My greatest passion is my work; I love mechatronics and all that comes with the field. My interest in computer science and robotics has been growing since the second grade, and it has been my dream to use my talent and skills with others to achieve great things for humanity. I am driven to make the world a better place. To this order, I attempt to give what I can to the community by acting as the Vice President of our local student chapter of IEEE.

-Allen Huju-

I am from Talmoon, Minnesota. I attended Deer River High School where I was appointed the President position for the Deer River chapter of the FIRST Robotics League. This experience is what fostered me to choose the career of engineering. As an engineering student at Itasca Community College, I was able to give back to my community by volunteering over 150 documented hours towards my local FIRST Robotics League team. This experience had given me the opportunity to better my engineering development as well as introduce young students to the field of engineering on the Iron Range.

As a student at IRE, I was honored to become the president of our local school chapter of the Society of Metallurgy and Exploration (SME). I chose to take this role in an effort to continue to give back to my community and demonstrate the importance of mining on the Iron Range. I am expected to graduate in the Fall of 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Degree.

-Tony Venditto-

I was born and raised in Grand Rapids, MN.  My interest in all things mechanical has shown in my hobbies and my job path. After spending some years in the working world, I decided to expand this interest through a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

My love of mechanical motion has guided my self-directed learning from bicycles and automobiles, to motorcycles, and now, aircraft.  My education at Iron Range Engineering has provided me with the technical competency to enhance my abilities in these areas as well.

I expect to graduate in May of 2017 and I hope to earn a position in an automotive or transportation-related design position.

Cover art credit: Tony Venditto