The Minds Behind ZEFIRO

Aerodynamics & Aeroacoustics

Aerodynamic efficiency is the cornerstone of ZEFIRO's Aerodynamics & Aeroacoustics department. The team is responsible for selecting wing profiles and propellers, as well as defining the shape of the fuselage and all aerodynamic appendages, with the aim of maximizing performance and minimizing interference between aircraft components. In the preliminary design phase, analyses are carried out using low-fidelity methods, which allow for the exploration of numerous configurations and the isolation of optimal solutions through optimization algorithms. Subsequently, the obtained geometries are analyzed through high-fidelity CFD simulations, in order to validate the results and identify potential criticalities. This analysis is finally integrated with aeroacoustic studies to mitigate the sound impact of propulsion, translating the study of flows into a design capable of ensuring efficient and quiet flight.

Flight Mechanics & Flight Simulation

Aircraft safety, precision, and governability are at the heart of the Flight Mechanics & Flight Simulation section. This department integrally analyzes the dynamic behavior of the aircraft, creating a direct link between theoretical modeling, numerical validation, and the development of control logics. Through flight simulators, software dedicated to estimating aerodynamic derivatives, and the construction of comprehensive aerodynamic databases, the team evaluates the aircraft's stability, maneuverability, and controllability, ensuring safe and effective performance in every operational phase. This activity then extends to determining the aircraft's transfer functions, which are fundamental for controller tuning and refining the system's dynamic response. In parallel, the section addresses the most critical aspects of the mission through risk analysis and mitigation strategies, defining mission management, navigation, and preparing necessary failsafes, transforming flight complexity into concrete engineering reliability.

Structures & Materials

Lightness, performance, and structural optimization represent the pulsating heart of ZEFIRO Team's Structures & Materials division. This department integrally manages the entire aircraft development cycle, creating a direct bridge between virtual design and physical realization. Through rigorous finite element analyses (FEM), the team validates the resistance of structures to complex aerodynamic loads, ensuring maximum reliability. This analytical phase then merges with the most advanced production technologies: members acquire practical skills of excellence, transitioning from meticulous lamination of carbon fiber composites to the use of additive manufacturing for realizing the most extreme geometries, transforming theory into tangible engineering innovation.

CAD & Production

We translate aerodynamic and structural requirements into 3D models. Leveraging SolidWorks' capabilities for modeling and Python for process automation, we oversee the entire development of components, from concept to production, ensuring their constructive feasibility and perfect integration into the final aircraft.

Avionics & Electronics

The Avionics & Electronics department handles the "nervous system" of our aircraft. Our task is to design, integrate, and test the entire hardware and software architecture that allows an aircraft to hover, perform aerodynamic transition to forward flight, and complete high-precision autonomous missions. We operate at the intersection of electronic, computer science, and aerospace engineering, applying the most rigorous standards of aerospace Systems Engineering. Electronics Laboratory: Soldering stations, multimeters, logic analyzers, CAD for circuit design (KiCad), and 3D printers for rapid prototyping of insulating supports.

Software Development

The Software Development department develops the software systems that allow the aircraft to perceive its surroundings and operate autonomously. By integrating high-performance companion computers, advanced sensors, and intelligent navigation algorithms, the team works on visual odometry, obstacle avoidance, and autonomous mission management, transforming data and perception into concrete operational capabilities.

Management

The Management section of Team ZEFIRO at Politecnico di Torino is responsible for the planning, coordination, and management of organizational and economic activities supporting the eVTOL project. Our goal is to ensure clear and efficient resource management, guaranteeing the correct use of funds, building relationships with sponsors and external partners, and organizing representation activities. We define and monitor the team's budget, collaborating with technical sections to estimate costs and project needs. In parallel, we develop relationships with companies and partners to support project growth through economic, material, and technical contributions. Finally, we coordinate participation in events and competitions, managing logistical aspects and promoting the project's visibility in the academic sphere.

Advisors

The Team Advisors represent the bridge between student initiative and the academic rigor of Politecnico. As industry experts, they support the Team in validating engineering processes and managing institutional relationships. Their supervision ensures project continuity and the scientific quality of our research and development activities.

Other Advisors

The PhD students of Politecnico di Torino represent a strategic asset for Team ZEFIRO, establishing a direct and continuous link between cutting-edge academic research and applied engineering. This structured synergy generates a high-level bidirectional exchange: researchers provide the Team with methodological rigor, specialized support, and technical seminars on fundamental tools. At the same time, ZEFIRO offers the opportunity to apply research to real engineering problems related to the development of VTOL aircraft and drones, transforming practical design challenges into solid thesis topics and academic papers.

Fondatori del Team