Aerodynamic Performance of a Quadrotor MAV Considering the Horizontal Wind

Abstract

The aerodynamic performance of the quadrotor is usually suffering a lower propulsive efficiency in a windy environment. Especially the horizontal wind may affect the attitude control to provide sufficient thrust to lift the entire vehicle or cause extra power consumption. In this paper, the aerodynamic characteristics of a micro quadrotor aircraft considering the horizontal wind disturbance are studied by both experiments and simulations. First, the aerodynamic model of the quadrotor with the influence of horizontal wind disturbance is deviated in details. Then, the distribution of flow field of the quadrotorr MAV considering the effects of horizontal wind was simulated by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. Finally, the thrust and power consumption of quadrotor with rotational speed ranged from 1500 to 2300 r/min were obtained in a low-speed wind tunnel. The comparison of simulation and experimental results shows that the distribution of flow field becomes more complicated with mutual interferences resulted by the distortion of rotor wake and crash of the downwash flow from the front rotors along with the wind direction. The thrust of the rotors gradually increases with wind speed, resulting from the increment of pressure difference between the upper and lower surfaces. However, the power consumption is also increasing because of the possible vibration caused by the strong interactions when the wind speed is up to 4.0 m/s. Also, the power loading of the quadrotor is larger at 2.5 m/s, which shows a good wind resistance with a better aerodynamic performance.

Mutual Aerodynamic Interference Mechanism Analysis of an “X” Configuration Quadcopter

“…The rest of aerodynamic forces can be neglected. (7) Aerodynamic efficiency of the rear rotor is decreased due to the mutual interference, resulting in the power increase of the quadcopter in the forward flight. The wake of front and rear rotors increases the lift of the fuselage, this effect tends to increase the aerodynamic efficiency.…”

“…Theys et al [6] pointed out that the aerodynamic forces acting on a rotor become more complicated as the flight speed increases. Yao et al [7] analyzed the aerodynamic characteristics of a small quadcopter in horizontal airflow. The interference of horizontal airflow played an important role in the performance.…”

Amplitude Control of Stall-Induced Nonlinear Aeroelastic System Based on Iterative Learning Control and Unified Pitch Motion

“…Inspired by the flow visualization of a dynamic stall on a pitching airfoil in a wind tunnel [16], and the immediacy of the velocity distribution of the blade model considering horizontal wind [17], and the operation control of a high-speed train by using spatial ILC [18] as well, we might as well assume that the pitch control law is used to satisfy and match the ILC algorithm on the one hand, and make the pitch angle change with the elastic torsion angle at any time on the other hand. In this way, as long as the elastic torsion angle is generated, it will be eliminated by pitch motion, so that the elastic torsion displacement almost always fluctuates around "0", then we can ignore the elastic torsion deformation θ in the aeroelastic system, so as to simplify the system.…”

The aerodynamic performance of Non-planar hex-rotors aircraft subjected the horizontal wind disturbanceLei yao1,2* Ma Chensong1 Feng Zhicheng1

“…For evidencing the accuracy of the experiment and analyzing aerodynamic characteristics, this paper uses the computational fluid dynamics(CFD) method to numerically simulate the non-planar hex-rotor subjected to horizontal flow. Considering that the aircraft can withstand light breeze(1.6-3.3m/s) and gentle breeze(3.4-5.4m/s) within the controllable range [20] , selecting the wind speed of 0m/s, 2.5m/s and 4m/s in this method. Combining the reasonableness of the tilt angle of the non-planar aircraft, choose 10°to 50°as the tilt angle variable.…”