High Performance Propeller System for a Multi-Mission Micro Aerial Vehicle

The new concept of a multi-mission micro air vehicle (MMMAV) was designed in order to enhance the efficiency, endurance and performance of this small vehicle which must be able to perform several capabilities: vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), hovering, low speed translation and high forward speed flight. The key factor of achievement is the propulsion system. Firstly, to ensure the capacity of the new propeller system concept, a high performance propeller system was designed and studied. Two testing conditions were investigated: hovering and a forward flight at a desired maximum speed. Initially, an analytical approach was adopted with preliminary calculations using XROTOR and CROTOR code to determine the 10 best propellers with optimal efficiency. Then, an experiment of both static and dynamic thrust was conducted. The rotation speed, thrust, torque, electric tension and current were carefully measured and compared with measurements taken for the in-line ‘APC-7×5’ propellers which are used by other MMMAVs. The results showed the new coaxial propeller system was highly efficient when combined with the ‘GWS9×4.7 Slow’ and the ‘APC6×4’ propellers. The power required was reduced by approximately 20% and 30% for hovering and forward flight, respectively.