The University of Auckland

Project #83: Investigation of Lifting Body Technology for Quadcopters

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Description:

This project seeks to blend the boundaries between conventional quadcopters and fixed wing UAVs through the application of lifting body technology to standard quadcopters. The development of conventional quadcopters has focused primarily on weight reductions, control systems, and propulsion so little work has been done on the aerodynamics of these craft. The body of a quadcopter has the potential to be blended into an aerofoil or lifting body, decreasing the drag and therefore increasing the lift on the craft during forward flight. This could decrease the required thrust from the rotors in forward flight at cruise, increasing both flight time and the range of the quadcopter. The application of lifting body technology could result in a unique hybrid craft which is capable of VTOL, sustained forward flight with low power consumption, precise tri-directional positioning, and station keeping. This is directly applicable to existing quadcopter tasks which require transit from the launch site to the work area and could result in a product which holds unique capacities in the crowded quadcopter markets.

Type:

Undergraduate

Outcome:

A more energy efficient quadcopter design.

Prerequisites

None

Specialisations

Categories

Supervisor

Team

Lab

Aerodynamics Lab (Newmarket 901 Lvl5, Lab)