Un-Folding a Quadcopter to Increase Efficiency - Part 1

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2023-11-24に共有
Thanks to PCBWay for sponsoring this video--check out their website for an instant quote on custom PCBs, 3D printing, or even CNC machined parts: www.pcbway.com/?from=Nicholas

If you take a large, efficient wing and fold it up into a box, you can turn it into a quadcopter. This sounds kind of silly, but I promise there’s some distinct benefits to controllability in hover, and efficiency in forward flight.

Patreon: www.patreon.com/NicholasRehm
My Website: www.drehmflight.com/
How a tailsitter transition works:    • Taming the Tail-Sitter: Hover to Forw...  
Can wingtip-mounted motors improve efficiency?:    • Can Wingtip Motors Improve Aircraft E...  
Peter’s mini quadrotor biplane:    • Chasing the VTOL Tail-sitter Mini QBiT!  

Tail-sitter VTOL designs are a hilariously simple approach to the challenges of mashing an airplane and a helicopter together. Just make a flying wing take off from its tail and pitch over 90 degrees into forward flight. But to improve the efficiency of forward flight generally means to degrade the controllability in hover, since increasing the size of your wing also increases the amount of surface area that can be blown around by the wind. For tailsitters, forward flight efficiency and hover controllability have always been in direct conflict. This design is my attempt at remedying this classic tradeoff, to see just how big of a wing we can turn into a tailsitter. Folding it up allows for motors to be placed in each corner like a quadcopter, dramatically improving control authority, while reducing the wind-facing surface area in hover. If you found this video interesting and want to follow along as we inch closer into forward flight, don’t forget to subscribe!

Intro: 00:00
Design Overview: 00:57
The Build: 03:25
First Flights: 05:15
Forward Flight Game Plan: 07:14
Transition Testing: 08:00
Conclusions: 09:56

#FoldWing #VTOL

コメント (21)
  • The oscillations are due to the polyhedral on the wing. You're ending up in a Dutch roll situation. You might want to try unfolding further before pitching over for forward flight. Another option to consider is a Z shape instead of a U.
  • @sonodrome
    I can already imagine the full transition looking totally majestic! Really excited to see part 2, great work 👍💕
  • Guys like you here on YouTube who are doing backyard/garage engineering give me great hope for the future. The things I see you do are amazing to me (a non engineer). I look forward to your next video and wish you great success in your future, but a guy as smart as you doesn't need luck. I am also impressed with the comments on this video too. Lot of seemingly smart helpful people out there.
  • @Brian-S
    Can't wait for part 2 this is quite possibly my favorite project of yours yet. Such an amazing awesome design
  • @alienbeef0421
    damn bro went balls deep with this design he forgot to post another vid
  • @mscir
    Well done. I like hearing the details of 3d printing. I never heard of lightweight PLA before, good to know. Looking forward to episode 2.
  • Wow. Good on you for being patient with the forward flight transition and taking the time to tune. Keep going!
  • @paulogden7417
    This is a super cool project! Very excited to see the next video and hear how you smooth out the instability. Can this be done with SW only or will it take physical changes? CH change? A tail of some sort? Good luck!
  • Mate, I have been a follower since the start, I fly professionally in the DCL racing league, me and the guys love how you've been furthering the hobby! Keep going!
  • @cephalopogg
    This video is so well made and I love the design. Can’t wait for the next part!
  • Fantastic! Love this one. I've been redesigning some of my linear actuators and playing with load rating them a bit. I'm glad to see use of linear actuators in this sort of application. Very impressive use of torque and lever action over that long distance. I'm surprised (impressed) how your printed materials stood up to the forces they had to endure. Great job!!
  • @ProMayvn
    This is such a great video Nicholas! Really cool take on this problem. Your video format and information, like that about certain aerodynamic aspects of the design, add a lot. Keep it up!
  • With it being partially folded like that, it can't help but remind me a bit of Star Wars' V-19 starfighter! That aside, seems like a cool build!
  • have you thought about having the wings fold upward? You could then use a "simple" strap in tension to keep the wing in its flying configuration. Just realized you could take your existing drone and fly it upside down 🙂Nice project! Good luck!
  • I can't wait to see this with a much faster transition mechanism so you could be a lot more dynamic with this awesome build. Really creative craft!!
  • I have been thinking about this for years, bravo! I look forward to see how this further develops!