Evaluation of quad ducted‐fan helicopter

Abstract

PurposeWith the purpose of clearing up the risk to rotor blades, this paper develops a quad ducted‐fan helicopter using four ducted‐fans instead of four rotor blades in a quad rotor helicopter.Design/methodology/approachAuto hovering test, auto cruise test, and altitude control simulations were conducted to estimate the flight performance of the quad ducted‐fan helicopter.FindingsFlight performance of the test quad ducted‐fan helicopter is almost same as a commercial quad rotor helicopter, and it succeeds to decrease the risk to the rotor blade. However, endurance is shorter than that of the quad rotor helicopter, because of the ducted‐fan characteristics.Research limitations/implicationsThe test quad ducted‐fan helicopter can fly for about four minutes with two packs of fourcell (16.8 V)‐2200 mAh Lipo batteries, and it needs about 3.3 times as much energy as quad rotor helicopter. The authors will improve the performance of quad ducted‐fan helicopter by aerodynamics analysis and design of ducted‐fan systemPractical implicationsThis is expected to reduce the risk of rotor blade mounted on multi rotor helicopter.Social implicationsThe research will facilitate the development of safety autonomous multi‐copters in various civilian applications.Originality/valueThe research purpose is to realize safety multi‐copter flight using ducted‐fan instead of rotor blade.