Aerodynamic Analysis of Rotor Spacing and Attitude Transition in Tilt-Powered Coaxial Rotor UAV

Complex aerodynamic characteristics and optimal control during the attitude transition of tilt-powered coaxial twin-rotor unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) represent key challenges in flight control design. This study investigates aerodynamic mechanisms and control parameter optimization during the tr...

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Main Authors: Wei Wu, Xinyu Tan, Xing Liu, Angang Luo, Lanjie Niu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/24/22/7115
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author Wei Wu
Xinyu Tan
Xing Liu
Angang Luo
Lanjie Niu
author_facet Wei Wu
Xinyu Tan
Xing Liu
Angang Luo
Lanjie Niu
author_sort Wei Wu
collection DOAJ
description Complex aerodynamic characteristics and optimal control during the attitude transition of tilt-powered coaxial twin-rotor unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) represent key challenges in flight control design. This study investigates aerodynamic mechanisms and control parameter optimization during the transition of UAVs from vertical to forward flight. By establishing a dynamic model and combining theoretical and numerical analyses, the optimal rotor spacing is determined to be h = 0.5 R. The load distribution and aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft are analyzed at different initial tilt angles during attitude transitions. At an initial tilt angle of δ = 9°, the thrust force increases by 439% compared with that at δ = 3°, and the tip speed increases by 15% and 35% compared with that at δ = 3° and δ = 13°, respectively. The results indicate that a tilt angle of δ = 9° results in a higher turbulent dissipation rate and rotor layout efficiency, with a smoother vortex flow and more orderly distribution. The interference between the twin-rotor tip vortices is relatively weak, resulting in excellent symmetry and aerodynamic stability. Through the improvement of the theoretical model and parameter optimization of a novel tilt-powered coaxial twin-rotor UAV, this study enhances UAV flight stability and provides valuable insights and validation for the further development of UAV technology.
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spelling doaj-art-2e6ea12484064a07b055b3243609c9162025-08-20T02:27:39ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202024-11-012422711510.3390/s24227115Aerodynamic Analysis of Rotor Spacing and Attitude Transition in Tilt-Powered Coaxial Rotor UAVWei Wu0Xinyu Tan1Xing Liu2Angang Luo3Lanjie Niu4School of Electronic Information Engineering, Xi’an Technological University, Xi’an 710021, ChinaSchool of Electronic Information Engineering, Xi’an Technological University, Xi’an 710021, ChinaSchool of Electronic Information Engineering, Xi’an Technological University, Xi’an 710021, ChinaSchool of Mechatronic Engineering, Xi’an Technological University, Xi’an 710021, ChinaScience and Technology on Electromechanical Dynamic Control Laboratory, Xi’an 710065, ChinaComplex aerodynamic characteristics and optimal control during the attitude transition of tilt-powered coaxial twin-rotor unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) represent key challenges in flight control design. This study investigates aerodynamic mechanisms and control parameter optimization during the transition of UAVs from vertical to forward flight. By establishing a dynamic model and combining theoretical and numerical analyses, the optimal rotor spacing is determined to be h = 0.5 R. The load distribution and aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft are analyzed at different initial tilt angles during attitude transitions. At an initial tilt angle of δ = 9°, the thrust force increases by 439% compared with that at δ = 3°, and the tip speed increases by 15% and 35% compared with that at δ = 3° and δ = 13°, respectively. The results indicate that a tilt angle of δ = 9° results in a higher turbulent dissipation rate and rotor layout efficiency, with a smoother vortex flow and more orderly distribution. The interference between the twin-rotor tip vortices is relatively weak, resulting in excellent symmetry and aerodynamic stability. Through the improvement of the theoretical model and parameter optimization of a novel tilt-powered coaxial twin-rotor UAV, this study enhances UAV flight stability and provides valuable insights and validation for the further development of UAV technology.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/24/22/7115coaxial rotorrotor layoutnumerical analysisparameter optimizationCFD
spellingShingle Wei Wu
Xinyu Tan
Xing Liu
Angang Luo
Lanjie Niu
Aerodynamic Analysis of Rotor Spacing and Attitude Transition in Tilt-Powered Coaxial Rotor UAV
Sensors
coaxial rotor
rotor layout
numerical analysis
parameter optimization
CFD
title Aerodynamic Analysis of Rotor Spacing and Attitude Transition in Tilt-Powered Coaxial Rotor UAV
title_full Aerodynamic Analysis of Rotor Spacing and Attitude Transition in Tilt-Powered Coaxial Rotor UAV
title_fullStr Aerodynamic Analysis of Rotor Spacing and Attitude Transition in Tilt-Powered Coaxial Rotor UAV
title_full_unstemmed Aerodynamic Analysis of Rotor Spacing and Attitude Transition in Tilt-Powered Coaxial Rotor UAV
title_short Aerodynamic Analysis of Rotor Spacing and Attitude Transition in Tilt-Powered Coaxial Rotor UAV
title_sort aerodynamic analysis of rotor spacing and attitude transition in tilt powered coaxial rotor uav
topic coaxial rotor
rotor layout
numerical analysis
parameter optimization
CFD
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/24/22/7115
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AT xinyutan aerodynamicanalysisofrotorspacingandattitudetransitionintiltpoweredcoaxialrotoruav
AT xingliu aerodynamicanalysisofrotorspacingandattitudetransitionintiltpoweredcoaxialrotoruav
AT angangluo aerodynamicanalysisofrotorspacingandattitudetransitionintiltpoweredcoaxialrotoruav
AT lanjieniu aerodynamicanalysisofrotorspacingandattitudetransitionintiltpoweredcoaxialrotoruav