Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research (IC&SR) , IIT Madras
Anti Air Column Interaction Mounting for Multirotor Aerial Vehicles
Categories for this Invention
Category – UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), Aerospace & Defense Technologies
Applications – Aerial Photography, Agricultural Monitoring and Crop Management
Industry – Aerospace and Defense, E-commerce
Market – Global multirotor drone market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.1% during the forecast period of 2024-2031.
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Problem Statement
- Increasing payload capacity by enlarging propellers results in undesirable size, weight, and stability issues.
- While VOOPS allows larger propellers without increasing footprint, it introduces thrust loss and system vibrations due to rotor overlap.
- Further, vibrations affect performance and stability, particularly in the accelerometer-dependent control systems used for flight stabilization and navigation.
Technology
- Tilted Rotor Axes for Minimal Air Interaction: The quadcopter’s frame design includes longitudinal members with motor mounts that tilt the rotor axes toward the central axis, reducing air column interaction and improving stability.
- Wedge-shaped or Inclined Motor Mounts: The motor mounts, which can be wedge-shaped or inclined plane devices, are set at a predetermined angle (5°-25°) to achieve minimal air column overlap and maintain low vibration amplitude (0.1 g or less).
- Configurable and Modular Design: The quadcopter can feature four, six, or eight longitudinal members, with overlapping rotors (0-35%) to optimize space and performance, and includes components like ESC units, communication units, and landing gear for comprehensive functionality.
Key Features / Value Proposition
Enhanced Payload Capacity:
- Innovative design allows larger propellers without increasing the quadcopter’s footprint, boosting payload capabilities.
Reduced Air Column Interaction:
- Tilted rotor axes minimize downwash interference, ensuring smoother and more stable flight performance.
Low Vibration Levels:
- Optimized rotor overlap and tilt angles achieve vibration amplitudes of 0.1 g or less, enhancing the reliability of accelerometer data.
Compact and Modular Design:
- Configurable with four, six, or eight longitudinal members, offering flexibility and space efficiency for various applications.
Advanced Motor Mounts:
- Wedge-shaped or inclined motor mounts set at angles between 5°-25° improve rotor efficiency and flight stability
Integrated Communication and Control Systems:
- Equipped with ESC units and communication modules for precise speed control and robust data transmission.
Questions about this Technology?
Contact For Licensing
sm-marketing@imail.iitm.ac.in
ipoffice2@iitm.ac.in
Research Lab
Prof. Asokan T
Department of Engineering Design
Intellectual Property
- IITM IDF Ref. 1383
- IN 509585 – Patent Granted
Technology Readiness Level
TRL – 5
Technology validated in relevant environment.