RC AutonomousQuadrotorHelicopterAmazingManeuvers-Youtube

[MitchJi]

Hi,

May 21, 2010 — Control of precise aggressive maneuvers with an autonomous quadrotor helicopter. This is a small autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). Demonstrations of flips, flight through windows, and quadrotor perching are shown. Work done at the GRASP Lab, University of Pennsylvania.

[youtube]MvRTALJp8DM[/youtube]

 

[John in CR]

Incredible control, but since 4 is useless for manned flight (1 motor goes and you're crashing) they need to be working to do the same thing with at least a 6 rotor vehicle.

 

[The Stig]

Why do you crash if 1 rotor goes and you have 3 rotors left?

 

[John in CR]

Why do you crash if 1 rotor goes and you have 3 rotors left?

Try driving a car around after one wheel falls off. With this 4 rotor thing, maybe 2 could provide enough lift and the 3rd provide the balance. That would require the ability to change the blade pitch enough to provide upward or downward thrust to balance. I don't think changing rotor direction is an option with something large enough for a vehicle.

With computer control, you just need 20-30 or whatever number is needed of RC size ducted fans to be able to build one you can ride on/in. I'll wait till it's proven before hopping aboard.

 

[The Stig]

Why do you crash if 1 rotor goes and you have 3 rotors left?

With this 4 rotor thing, maybe 2 could provide enough lift and the 3rd provide the balance. That would require the ability to change the blade pitch enough to provide upward or downward thrust to balance. I don't think changing rotor direction is an option with something large enough for a vehicle.

Thats what I was thinking, a computer could easily control the pitch of all blades and the third rotor could be used for balance. With good computer control it might even be able to stay in the air with 2 rotors like a chinook.

Try driving a car around after one wheel falls off.

Yeah... not a good comparison

 

[MitchJi]

Hi John,

Incredible control, but since 4 is useless for manned flight (1 motor goes and you're crashing) they need to be working to do the same thing with at least a 6 rotor vehicle.

Even with only one rotor, if it dies its not hard to land softly as long as your altitude is good.

Very low altitude works because there is a "cushion" of air.

Medium and greater altitude also works. The technique is to adjust the rotor pitch so there is almost no lift, which causes it to spin fast. Then when you get close to the ground the rotor pitch is adjusted to provide a lot of lift.

Worst case if you lose power to one rotor with a quad I think it could be landed like an unpowered single rotor.

Might not be a safe place to land but your chances are much better than with fixed wing.