Angled Rotor Mounting for UAV Drag Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Remotely operated aerial vehicles (ROAVs) face challenges in reducing their cross-sectional area during forward flight, which affects drag and top speed, making them less suitable for high-speed applications like pursuit missions.
Innovation Solution
A rotor-based ROAV design with a frame and power source, featuring a plurality of rotors mounted at specific angles relative to the top and bottom surfaces, minimizing the cross-sectional area by optimizing rotor placement and pitch during flight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the ROAV uses a conventional rotor configuration with rotors mounted parallel to the ground, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the cross-sectional area is large resulting in high drag and low top speed
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor mounting structure is designed to be adjustable, allowing the rotors to be positioned at different angles relative to the ground. This dynamic configuration enables the system to optimize its cross-sectional area for high-speed flight while maintaining structural integrity and controllability during operation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the angular parameter of rotor mounting from the conventional parallel configuration to an angled configuration. By adjusting this geometric parameter, the cross-sectional area is reduced, thereby lowering drag and increasing top speed capability without fundamentally altering the rotor function
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the ROAV reduces its cross-sectional area by angling the rotors, then drag is reduced and top speed increases, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor mounting system is segmented into adjustable components that allow independent control of rotor angle. This segmentation enables precise control over the angular parameter to optimize drag reduction while simplifying the manufacturing process through modular assembly rather than requiring monolithic precision
3Adaptability or versatility
If the ROAV uses a fixed rotor configuration, then the structure is stable and reliable, but it cannot optimize its cross-sectional area for high-speed flight
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor mounting system incorporates adjustable mechanisms that allow the rotors to be repositioned at different angles during or after flight. This dynamic capability enables the system to adapt its cross-sectional area for high-speed optimization while maintaining flight stability through controlled adjustment rather than fixed rigid positioning
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention extends to methods, systems, devices, and apparatus for remotely operated aerial vehicle with reduced cross-section area during forward flight. In one aspect, a remotely operated aerial vehicle is a rotor based Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) having a plurality of rotors. A remotely operated aerial vehicle includes a frame, a power source, a plurality of motors, and a corresponding plurality of fixed rotors. The frame includes a top surface. Each fixed rotor in the plurality of fixed rotors is mounted to a corresponding motor from among the plurality of motors. The corresponding motor controls the rotation of the fixed rotor. Each of the plurality of fixed rotors is mounted at a specified angle relative to the top surface. Mounting the fixed rotors at the specified angle minimizes the cross-sectional area of the frame when the remotely operated aerial vehicle flies in a specified direction.