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Take off Weight vs Flight Endurance for a heavhy-lifter multi-rotor UAV platforms

Posted by MC on May 1, 2012 at 10:21am

Hey,

Take off Weight (TOW)  and flight endurance are inversely related attributes for most of UAV platforms.

I want to build a multi-rotor UAV platform capable of lifting 2.5kg payload (+ weigh of platform+batteries+electronics etc) and try to hover at as long as it can (in a calm day). In order to design and build such a platform I need to understand (or educated guess) about factors effecting the lift and endurance such as propeller, motor, ESC etc.

  • Do you know any website that can help to select best component configurations for a heavy-lifter, long endurance multi-rotor UAV ?
  • If you have a multi-rotor UAV can you comment about your platform's weight lifting and endurance capabilities i.e. how TOW and flight endurance related in your platform and what is your system config (props, motors, ESC, batteries, frame, autopilot etc)?

Thx.

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Replies

  • Jordan May 4, 2012 at 5:38pm

    a general rule i learned for quads at rcgroups: find the total thrust for half of the motors...that needs to be >= the AUW. flybrushless is an awesome site!

  • Moderator
    Michael Pursifull May 1, 2012 at 10:34am

    You're starting from a good place, knowing your target weight. This is the most important thing for designing an efficient (read, longer flight times) aircraft.

    Here are a few tips:

    * fewer blades, more efficient

        * 1 blade is better than two, but they are very rare (weighted on one side, blade on the other)

        * Helicopter is more efficient than multi, but more complex

        * Forget coaxial (too complex, in general, for the benefits)

        * Tricopter is a good balance if you can handle the complexity of the yaw arrangement

        * Quad is the "best" overall balance between efficiency and complexity

        * Don't go to a hexa unless you require redundancy or are using someone else's design. If you want efficiency, scale the motors/props to your desired lift requirements, and stick with the quad. 

    * larger blades, more efficient - as a general rule, but look at the specific prop performance

    * locate your ideal thrust target range (AUW * 1.15 for hover) and make sure you select the largest, lowest RPM prop that will generate optimal thrust for the least power input at that RPM speed/trust output

    * locate a motor that is capable of driving the prop at those RPMs at its peek efficiency. 80% would be great

    * do not overbuild or under build for your required weight

    Here is a great resource - http://www.flybrushless.com/

    And remember, have fun with it!

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